A/HRC/22/3 Persons helping victims of trafficking were exempted from that obligation. However, they were encouraged to report such crime, in the interest of the victim. 56. The Czech Republic confirmed that it was firmly committed to fighting organized crime in all its forms. Following the new act on criminal liability of legal persons for crimes committed, legal entities could be held criminally liable and the Czech law was currently in full compliance with OP-CRC-SC; the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementary protocols, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol) and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. The ratification process was gradually starting and the depositions of the ratification instruments were expected during upcoming years. 57. The Czech Republic acknowledged the importance of equality and antidiscrimination. The most important legal regulation was the Anti-Discrimination Act, adopted in 2009, which prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability and religion in the areas of employment, social security and social benefits, health care, education and access to goods and services. Victims could claim damages in courts and could be represented by specialized NGOs. Equal treatment was also controlled by public authorities who could impose monetary fines on perpetrators of discriminatory acts. Those authorities kept records on cases of discrimination and formulated their plans of work accordingly to focus on the most important areas. The national authority leading the fight against discrimination was the Ombudsman, whose tasks were to help enforce the right to equal treatment, assist discrimination victims, conduct research, publish reports and recommendations on discrimination issues and disseminate information. 58. Slovakia recognized the dedication of the Czech Republic to improving its human rights record and welcomed the adoption of the National Plan of Action for Inclusive Education, the Anti-Discrimination Act, the new Criminal Code and amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the creation of the Agency for Social Inclusion. Slovakia made recommendations. 59. Slovenia welcomed the steps taken since the first UPR, including the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination Act and the new Criminal Code, amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure and new strategies and policy concepts, particularly relating to the rights of the Roma population. Slovenia made recommendations. 60. South Africa welcomed the legislative, institutional and policy measures adopted to implement the accepted recommendations. It recognized that significant challenges remained, particularly in the area of discrimination against minorities, especially Roma, and against migrants and other foreigners. South Africa made recommendations. 61. Spain welcomed the ratification of the Rome Statute in July 2009 and commended the Czech Republic for its active and constructive participation in the Human Rights Council. Spain made recommendations. 62. Sri Lanka welcomed the Government’s efforts to protect the rights of children and the progress made in education. It also praised strategies and policies developed to combat human trafficking and encouraged the Government to intensify those efforts. Sri Lanka made recommendations. 63. Thailand commended efforts to eliminate discrimination against minorities through new legislation and legislative changes. It highlighted the Government’s statement of regret for the identified cases of women whose sterilizations were inconsistent with law and 9