A/HRC/18/2 401. Latvia had accepted the recommendation on the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in order to abolish the death penalty in times of war. To that effect, in July, the Government had approved a legislative package on the accession to Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. Following the adoption of the whole package of draft laws by the Parliament and their entry into force, Latvia would assess the possibility of ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in due course. 402. Numerous questions had been raised by delegations regarding the Ombudsman’s office and several recommendations had been made in this regard. Latvia did not envisage enlarging the mandate of the Ombudsman, as the established mandate was already broad and fully compliant with the Paris Principles. While describing the mandate of that institution, Latvia stated that the Ombudsman’s strategy for the period 2011–2013 set among the institution’s priorities the launching of a procedure for its accreditation to the international coordination body of national human rights institutions. 403. Latvia would continue measures aimed at eliminating discrimination, including discrimination against vulnerable groups. The Constitution guaranteed that human rights were to be realized without discrimination of any kind and that all persons in Latvia were equal before the law and the courts. The prohibition of discrimination and differential treatment had also been included in sectoral laws. National legislation provided for administrative and criminal responsibility for violation of the principle of nondiscrimination. Latvia would continue its efforts to protect the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. It recognized, however, that further action was still needed to achieve de facto equality. Latvia did not agree with the recommendation on the adoption of a comprehensive gender equality law, since anti-discriminatory provisions were incorporated into sectoral laws as an integral part of the overall legislative framework. 404. Anti-discrimination norms also applied to the elimination of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Domestic laws guaranteed freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to everyone without discrimination, and no violence had been reported against LGBT persons as such. 405. Regarding the recommendations to amend the criminal law concerning hate crimes, Latvia believed that the law and others provided for adequate regulation. They criminalized acts of intentionally inciting national, ethnic or racial hatred or disharmony, and the criminal law also defined racist motives as an aggravating circumstance. Moreover, racial discrimination was also effectively prohibited in other laws, and the victims of such crimes were provided with accessible and effective mechanisms for protecting their rights. In recent years, Latvia had succeeded in cutting back on the number of instances of national, ethnic and racial hatred. 406. Latvia was unable to provide a definitive answer to the recommendations with regard to sanctions under the criminal law against homophobic and transphobic crime or hate speech against LGBT persons. No amendments to legislation were currently planned, and discussions thereon had not yet been held. However, law enforcement agencies would, within their mandates, continue their efforts to combat discrimination. 407. Latvia stated that a number of international organizations had acknowledged the important progress that Latvia had made in the area of societal integration. Latvia guaranteed cultural autonomy to all its national minorities, and gave significant support for the strengthening of their identity. State-financed education was available in eight national minority languages. Thorough efforts were being made to prepare a set of new national identity and society integration policy guidelines by involving diverse stakeholders. GE.12-17756 137