A/HRC/28/4 17. It was noted that, from 1 January to 23 October 2014, some 151,126 migrants had arrived by sea, including 12,164 unaccompanied minors. Unaccompanied minors were entitled to a residence permit until they reached the age of 18. Upon coming of age, they could obtain a residence permit either for study or work reasons. Unaccompanied minors benefited from the protection of numerous rights, including education, health care, accommodation in a safe place, and guardianship. In addition, Italian law prohibited the deportation of minors as a general rule. 18. The stigmatization of certain ethnic or social groups remained a matter of serious concern for the central Government and local authorities and the country was strongly committed to eradicating racist and xenophobic attitudes within society. 19. The Italian legal framework contained a wide range of criminal, civil and administrative law provisions to combat racism. Information on those provisions was provided. 20. Responding to the advance questions regarding anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, the delegation noted that the Government was strongly committed to countering all forms of religious discrimination and social prejudices. Fresh impetus had been given to interreligious dialogue since 2012, when the Government had convened a Committee for Interreligious Dialogue. 21. The Italian Government was also committed to gender equality and to preventing and eliminating discrimination based directly or indirectly on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age or gender identity. 22. Regarding the practice of having workers sign an undated letter of resignation at the time of hiring for future use by the employer (so-called “blank resignations”), in compliance with Act No. 92/2012, the resignations became effective only after a procedure involving multiple stages with local job centres, trade unions and the Ministry of Labour, among others. Fines in cases of violation had been increased, in addition to criminal proceedings. 23. Concerning the promotion of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, the LGBT National Strategy 2013–2015 had been adopted. The four main areas of intervention were education and training; employment; security and prisons; media and communication. Each area included goals to promote equality and combat discrimination against LGBT persons. 24. Roma, Sinti and Caminanti communities had been living in Italy for a long time. With regard to their integration, the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma, Sinti and Caminanti Communities 2012–2020 had been adopted, in accordance with communication No. 173/2011 of the European Commission. 25. No constitutional reforms would affect Slovenian-speaking communities living in Friuli Venezia Giulia. As pointed out in the national report, several measures had been implemented since the enactment of Act No. 38/2001 including the use of minority languages in joint bodies and in public administration. 26. A bill was under discussion in the Italian parliament to amend the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure and to revise the legal definition of defamation, including defamation through the press and any other means of publicity, insult and libel, and related sanctions, excluding any reference to detention. 27. The 17,309 proceedings pending at the European Court of Human Rights mainly concerned the length of trials and the delays in the payment of compensation. Italy had agreed with the European Court on a two-year action plan for the final settlement of about 7,000 complaints regarding compensation. A similar solution was expected for the 5