A/HRC/18/24 human rights issues, such as discrimination, equal opportunity and treatment, and provision of legal aid to the poor. Some national legislation also provides sanctions for unequal treatment in employment and for harassment. In some States, offences committed based on discrimination were considered as having aggravating circumstances and in other States, the fact of discrimination based on religion was a criminal offence. 14. In defining priorities and policies, States reported that they were in the process of developing, implementing and updating national action plans on human rights. Thematic action plans were also mentioned, with regard to human rights education, health, social welfare, minorities, and violence against women. Policies in relation to ensuring economic, social and cultural rights included comprehensive pension systems, national housing programmes, and social programmes for times of crisis and for the prevention and reduction of poverty. 15. In order to ensure cooperation and cohesion, some States indicated that they had developed focal points on human rights issues in designated government ministries and agencies. Certain States were imposing fines and sanctions for the non-implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. States were also supporting human rights organizations working at the national level, including civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. The support varied from incentives and subsidies to awarding grants for special initiatives. Training institutions were providing human rights education for civil servants, law enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors. 16. Considerable attention was given to disadvantaged groups in State policies. With increases in migration, governments have been taking measures to protect the rights of their citizens in the context of both legal and illegal migration, while some States have developed bilateral agreements guaranteeing the rights of migrant workers. Projects have been implemented for the inclusion of migrant children in the educational system, as well as the drafting of new school curricula with human-rights-based approaches. An integration programme for disabled students was introduced along with a provision of incentives for the employment of persons with disabilities. B. Bodies, structures and mechanisms 17. When asked what organizations or structures they had created to act as prevention bodies, States invoked commissions, committees, ombudsmen and public defenders. Some of these bodies were formal NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles. 18. States also reported that, in the absence of a specific body, they had developed practices and structures for prevention and for the protection of human rights. This included parliamentary committees on human rights, inter-ministerial groups, and inter-agency councils either on human rights or on thematic issues, such as human trafficking, corruption, domestic violence, torture and ill-treatment. In some States, human rights focal points and special units were established in ministries of internal affairs and other law enforcement agencies. States ensured the participation of non-State actors in these mechanisms. 19. There were also institutions dedicated to the rights of certain groups exposed to human rights abuses and violations. Those include authorities on minority groups, offices on nationalities, and offices on religious communities. In addition, some institutions were mandated to focus on specific issues; examples include an authority for monitoring illegal images and incitement of hatred on the Internet, an office against trafficking and an office dealing with NGO issues. 7