A/HRC/41/21 body is to ensure that public policies are inclusive of Afro-Panamanians, and to address their historic discrimination and marginalization. 12 Discrimination against the Roma population 25. The European Union took steps to challenge segregation of Roma in the education systems of Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia, as well as to challenge high-level hate speech against Roma in Italy. Following OHCHR advocacy, in July 2018, the European Parliament held a special session to examine hate speech by senior Italian officials. 26. The efforts of OHCHR to encourage the adoption of a human rights-based follow-up to the current European Union Roma inclusion framework advanced during 2018, with the European Commission taking steps to act on OHCHR recommendations to strengthen the European Union policy on tackling segregation and acting to recognize and combat antiGypsyism. Proposals for explicit funding commitments in this regard were included in the European Commission’s May 2018 budget proposals for the period after 2020. Also, in June 2018, the European Union adopted new standards strengthening national antidiscrimination bodies, which guarantee their greater independence and capacity. Protection of migrants’ rights 27. As recognized in international human rights norms and Sustainable Development Goal 8, migrants often face particular challenges that need to be addressed through rightsbased policies and legislation. In Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras), the foreign affairs ministries have developed protocols for effective response to cases of missing or disappeared migrants, with the support of OHCHR. In Guatemala, Congress adopted a new Migration Code, with the support of OHCHR. However challenges remain, and two years after the adoption of the Code, the necessary implementing institutions have not yet been created. Since October 2018, a new migration pattern in Central America known as “migrant caravans” has raised serious concerns about the capacity of Guatemala and Mexico to meet its human rights and Sustainable Development Goals commitments in the context of large movements of migrants in transit. Discrimination based on disability 28. In 2018, OHCHR worked closely with the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs to assess the compliance with international disability standards of Law No. 220 (2000) on the rights of disabled persons. OHCHR conducted a comparative study that identified gaps in the national legislation and recommended improvements. 29. In West Africa, Benin and Senegal adopted laws on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, the Gambia drafted a disability bill, and the Government of Guinea is reviewing a draft law on the protection of persons with disabilities. Four Nigerian States adopted legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities. 30. Other important anti-discrimination steps, often supported by OHCHR or other United Nations agencies, were taken in several countries. Some progress was achieved in developing national action plans, policies and strategies on disability in Serbia, South Africa and Uganda. Furthermore, in Ethiopia, the national committee in charge of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities launched a disability inclusion guide for trade unions. The Republic of Moldova approved a new framework for disability determination, which complies with international standards. Avoiding marginalization of youth 31. Timor-Leste is among the youngest nations in Asia, with 62 per cent of the population under the age of 25. The country is committed to transforming the existing youth bulge into a “demographic dividend’’ by 2030, and in 2016 adopted a National Youth Policy. The United Nations, with technical advice from the Human Rights Adviser, is 12 See www.asamblea.gob.pa/crearan-secretaria-nacional-para-afropanamenos/. 7