A/HRC/22/10 105. Uzbekistan noted the efforts by the Republic of Korea to improve the protection of women’s and children’s rights and the renewal of its national plan of action for human rights. Uzbekistan noted concerns involving racial discrimination, restriction of freedom of religion, and human trafficking. It made recommendations. 106. The Republic of Korea stated that it was a de facto abolitionist State. The Government would continue to examine carefully the need to abolish the death penalty, taking into consideration such factors as public opinion, legal perception and social realities, as well as the function of the death penalty in criminal policy. Currently, it was difficult to ratify the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. 107. The Ministry of Justice held the annual inter-agency meeting on countermeasures to prevent and eliminate human trafficking and was strengthening cooperation and information sharing among Government agencies for the effective punishment of human trafficking and the understanding of its trends. The Government had put forward a amendment to the Criminal Act which contained a comprehensive definition of human trafficking. The amendment was currently under consideration by the National Assembly, and the ratification process of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol) would be carried out as soon as legislative procedures had been completed. 108. The Government had strengthened the control and management of business sites that employed foreign workers. In cases of discrimination, exploitation or delay in payment, the foreign worker could leave the site of employment and go to a different employment. The Government had established and operated 34 support centres and a counselling centre for foreign workers. 109. The Government had been supporting and taking a special interest in children from multicultural families and migrant children in terms of policymaking. The Government had revised the applicable laws and regulations in December 2010 to allow any child to receive free primary and secondary education up to middle school regardless of the parents’ status of stay. Children of foreign workers who were not eligible for legal medical assurance services, such as health insurance or medical benefits, due to illegal stay were also granted medical support through the medical services support project for foreign workers and the marginalized class. 110. The revised Civil Act was to take effect in July 2013; the Government planned to withdraw, at that time, the reservation to article 21 (a) of CRC. 111. Regarding acts of violence and acts to obstruct other persons’ rights during assemblies and demonstrations, the police force was mobilized in compliance with international human rights standards. As for police officers who had used excessive force in law enforcement, cases were investigated thoroughly. The Government would continue to harmonize the rights to assembly and demonstration and public order. 112. To reduce disadvantages faced by women in employment, the Government was promoting childcare leave, providing childcare support and expanding the flexible work system to prevent career breaks caused by child-bearing and child-rearing. It was also implementing affirmative action to help women ascend the corporate ladder. The Government designated the Equal Employment Promotion Week (1-7 April) to raise public awareness about the importance of gender equality in employment. It also awarded a prize to those who made outstanding contributions to equal employment. 113. According to article 92-5 of the Military Criminal Act, sodomy and acts of sexual molestation were to be punished. The Constitutional Court on two occasions had decided 14