A/HRC/37/12 63. Brazil encouraged Switzerland to revise the provision of the Foreign Nationals Act, which established a custodial sentence for persons in an irregular migratory situation. 64. Bulgaria noted the positive action of Switzerland for the implementation of recommendations and commended it on its achievements in the dual education system. 65. Burkina Faso welcomed the high level of implementation of the recommendations accepted during the previous universal periodic review cycle. 66. Burundi commended Switzerland for its efforts made towards gender equality and to improve participation in political life. 67. Cabo Verde applauded the consultation process to establish a national human rights institution and the ratification of international instruments. 68. Canada welcomed the adoption of a legislative amendment allowing same-sex couples to adopt their partner’s children. 69. The Central African Republic commended Switzerland for its efforts undertaken to strengthen national mechanisms for human rights. 70. Chad welcomed the broad consultation process undertaken in drafting the national report. It congratulated Switzerland for becoming a party to several international human rights instruments. 71. China welcomed efforts in protecting human rights but was concerned at reports of racial discrimination and xenophobia. 72. Colombia welcomed the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. 73. The Congo welcomed the adoption of an action plan for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 74. Costa Rica asked about existing challenges to the implementation of polices on climate change with a human rights perspective. 75. Switzerland thanked the delegations who had taken part in the dialogue and gave the following responses to the questions put and recommendations made. 76. In respect of mass atrocities, the delegation mentioned, inter alia, that Switzerland was one of the founding States of the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes initiative and also supported the initiative calling for the adoption of a code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. 77. On the question of a national human rights institution, it should be noted that a bill was to be brought before Parliament in 2018 proposing that the work of such an institution should be allocated to a university centre and guided by the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), and establishing its independence in law. 78. The measures taken in respect of racial discrimination included victim advice mechanisms, support for awareness raising projects and the promotion of access to justice. Discrimination covered a huge range of issues and the Federal Council was therefore of the opinion that it would be difficult to introduce a single law to cover them all. 79. On the question of migration and asylum, the Confederation tried to respect family unity at all times and attempted to meet the specific accommodation needs of families and women travelling alone. Training and employment were central to integration. However, refugees, young people and young migrants who had come to Switzerland at an older age were more affected by unemployment. 80. The Foreign Nationals Act allowed a residence permit to be issued to persons residing illegally in Switzerland in extremely serious individual cases. However, the Government and Parliament were opposed to any collective regularization of undocumented migrants and did not intend to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 6 GE.17-23483