A/HRC/11/19* to rights of women. However, the situation of women in labour market has number of problems that have not been resolved and the government is currently taking appropriate measures to improve the situation. The delegation recognized that domestic violence is a problem and affects not only women, but also men, children and elderly people. A number of facilities were established providing secure facilities for victims of domestic violence. 72. In August 2008, a national plan was developed and adopted to comply with recommendations of CERD and at the end of the year 2009 an interim report will be prepared on the implementation of recommendations. The system of anti-discrimination law is in place. Regarding efforts to effectively combat extremism, xenophobia and intolerance the State will organize an information campaign in order to strengthen solidarity amongst different ethnic groups. 73. Concerning establishment and registration of non commercial organizations the delegation noted that such activities are governed by the law which is in compliance with international norms and standards. Registration problems for political parties are related to non compliance with federal law or lack of support amongst society at large for the programme of such parties. Religious organizations are currently integrated in the civil society. The main religious organizations are represented in councils at different levels. In accordance with legislation religious organizations have the right to educational, professional and vocational activities. 74. The delegation noted in relation to the interaction with special procedures of UN HRC that Russia is cooperating with all special rapporteurs and special mechanisms and did not reject any request for visits. The other issue is number of requests and scheduling of such visits which require time. Another matter is the need to avoid duplication of efforts and to have priority areas to reform domestic legislation as Russian Federation has also other reporting obligations and regularly receives monitoring procedures related to other organizations, such as Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. In 2008 12 monitoring procedures from different international organizations visited Russian Federation. 75. On the question of accession to various instruments and to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OP-CAT) and Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of Child (OP-CRC) and others, Russian Federation is constantly studying possibilities on acceding and adopting appropriate international obligations, yet it is guided by the idea that domestic legislation must be brought in accordance with international treaties before such treaties enter into force. Therefore, currently, as a part of reforms of the penitentiary system and expanding on social monitoring of the situation in prisons, requests of acceding to the OP-CAT will be considered at the later stage. In relation to OP-CRC-SC, currently, Russian Federation reviews whether domestic legislation corresponds to the standards stipulated in this instrument and it will then decide to accession or non accession to it. 76. As to the accession to the protocol No. 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights related to the death penalty and Second Protocol to the ICCPR this will be considered once the appropriate changes have been made to domestic legislation. In accordance with the Constitution the Russian Federation strives towards abolishing the death penalty on the step by step basis. There is a moratorium on the application of death penalty sentences currently. Russian Federation supported the United Nations General Assembly resolution on abolishing the death penalty. 77. As regard to the situation in South Ossetia region the delegation stressed in this connection that politically speaking the Russian Federation is open to a dialogue. At the same time assertions about control by the Russian Federation over the territory of South 16 GE.09-16259