A/HRC/26/12 24. Sweden looked forward to receiving responses to its advance questions concerning the Roma population, specifically about the steps being taken to ensure equal education opportunities for Roma children and about land and property issues in relation to Roma settlements. Sweden made recommendations. 25. Thailand commended the progress made in integrating education on human rights into the national school curricula. Despite actions to integrate people belonging to ethnic minorities better, it noted that the Roma minority continued to face discrimination and stigmatization. It applauded Slovakia for the steps taken to promote gender equality, but was concerned about domestic and gender-based violence. Thailand made recommendations. 26. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia noted the strengthened legal framework through accession to international conventions and the adoption and implementation of domestic law, in particular in the areas of anti-discrimination and human rights legislation. It enquired about the functioning of the Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance. It made a recommendation. 27. Tunisia noted the broadening of the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to include human rights, the establishment of the Plenipotentiary for National Minorities, the adoption of the Strategy for Roma Integration and the signing and ratification of human rights instruments, including CRPD and its optional protocol. Tunisia made recommendations. 28. Turkmenistan welcomed the measures taken to improve the human rights institutional framework of Slovakia during the period under review. Turkmenistan made recommendations. 29. The United States of America welcomed the adoption of the Strategy for Roma Integration. It was concerned about extremism, violence and discrimination against the Roma and a continued lack of judicial accountability, including the abuse of power by judges and the low level of public trust in judicial fairness and integrity. It made recommendations. 30. Uzbekistan welcomed ratification of CRPD, OP-CRPD, OP-ICESCR and the Optional Protocol to CRC. It commended the Strategy for Roma Integration, the concept of combating extremism and the establishment of the Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance. However, the treaty bodies highlighted persistent discrimination and racism against the Roma, ethnic minorities and migrants. Uzbekistan made recommendations. 31. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterated the concern expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) regarding the persistent stigmatization and discrimination of the Roma community and other ethnic minorities. It was also concerned about the appointment of judges by the national executive and the failure to provide legal aid from the moment a person is deprived of his or her liberty. It made recommendations. 32. Viet Nam commended Slovakia on its human rights achievements, including accession to international instruments, the harmonization of national laws with European Union legislation, the implementation of anti-discrimination recommendations, the elimination of racism and combating human trafficking. It made recommendations. 33. Albania noted the strengthening of human rights bodies within public institutions, the drafting of strategies and amendments to existing legislation, particularly in the key area of anti-discrimination. It commended the ratification of CRPD and its Optional Protocol and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against 6