A/HRC/11/19* 19. Germany asked what measures had been taken to assure personal security of human rights defenders, including lawyers and journalists, and about the impact of the assassination of Stanislav Markelov on Government policy. It noted the overdue reports to CEDAW. While welcoming the abolishment in practice of the death penalty, it recommended implementing its announcement to abolish the death penalty de jure and to consider ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP-ICCPR). 20. The Netherlands noted the rulings of the European Court for Human Rights on cases involving human rights violation in the Northern Caucasus and commended the authorities for their commitment to execute those rulings and the judicial reform. However, the rulings seemed to lay bare a shortcoming in the justice system. It recommended strengthening the ongoing efforts to reform the justice system according to international standards. The Netherlands noted that cases of killing and harassment of journalists are rarely solved. It recommended taking further measures to improve journalists’ security and ensure that violations of their rights were fully and promptly investigated and that any one found responsible was brought to justice according to international standards. The Netherlands noted concerns about a rising trend of extremist violence and hate crimes, especially against minority groups, including migrants and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender/transsexual people. It recommended considering a comprehensive approach and specific programmes to combat racist attacks and discrimination, especially with regard to the vulnerable position of migrants. In this light it would be recommendable to revise the Law against Extremism so as to clarify the definition of extremism. The Netherlands recommended considering a review of the NGO law taking into account, inter alia, the concerns expressed by United Nations rights bodies. 21. Italy asked about measures undertaken to improve media freedom and protection of journalists’ working conditions. Italy recommended adopting further measures aimed at improving media freedom and protecting the working conditions of journalists and human rights defenders in the country. It recommended conducting a thorough, prompt and impartial investigation into the assassinations of journalist Anastasia Baburova and human rights activist Stanislav Markelov and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Italy asked about civil society’s role in promoting human rights and about the criteria used to grant financing to NGOs. It welcomed the establishment of the national working group on judicial reform and the creation of the Anti-corruption Council. Italy recommended increasing efforts to overcome existing challenges in this field, including corruption, transparency and accountability of the public administration as well as a rational division of responsibility between federal and regional levels of the Government. 22. Algeria praised Russia for its very positive role in facilitating the preparatory process to the Review Conference for Durban. It recommended that Russia continue its positive work to combat racial discrimination and related intolerance; pursue its efforts to improve the situation of detainees and take measures to achieve that goal; continue its efforts to reduce the number of children without parental care, particularly by stepping up the work already undertaken to overcome that phenomenon; and continue to promote equality between men and women and, in the current situation of a world economic crisis, step up its efforts to protect economic, social and cultural rights for the most vulnerable segments of the population, including migrants. 23. Austria, noting the concern of the Special Representative on the situation of human rights defenders that registration laws may aim to stifle criticism and limit civil-society movements, asked about follow-up in that regard. It recommended creating an environment, inter alia through a legislative framework, that promotes rather than restricts the right to freedom of assembly and that encourages citizens to express their diverse views. It enquired about follow-up to the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s (CRC) 6 GE.09-16259