A/HRC/11/27 Page 6 promote basic and professional education for educators, and promote the teaching of indigenous languages. Nevertheless, one of the main challenges is achieving full access for indigenous peoples to compulsory, bilingual and intercultural education. The Federal Government is creating Intercultural Universities in several states. Mexico recognized the challenge of respecting indigenous peoples’ right of access to justice of and ensures certified defence counsel, interpreters and translators in all lawsuits and proceedings involving indigenous people. 20. Mexico has promoted a foreign policy aimed at protecting the rights of Mexicans living abroad. Mexico has to ensure coherence between the fair treatment claimed for Mexicans living abroad and the treatment given to foreign migrants in Mexico. Consequently, in July 2008 undocumented migration was de-criminalized. 21. On the fight against Poverty, Mexico highlighted the Federal Government’s launching of the Living Better strategy, in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Mexico is achieving these goals and has even set additional ones, as reflected in the current National Development Plan (NDP). B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 22. During the interactive dialogue, statements were made by 56 delegations. Additional statements which could not be delivered during the interactive dialogue due to time constraints are also posted on the UPR extranet when available.** Numerous delegations thanked Mexico for its comprehensive presentation and for the quality of its national report, which was elaborated in consultation with civil society. Mexico was congratulated for its full cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, particularly its ratification of all relevant human rights instruments, issuance of a standing invitation to special procedures and recognition of the competence of bodies to receive complaints. Its positive contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council and the institution-building process was also particularly welcomed. 23. Brazil welcomed the abolition of the death penalty in 2005. It stressed the significant challenges faced by Mexico, such as equalizing social and regional disparities, adding that a significant part of the Mexican population still lives in poverty, a situation which disproportionally affects indigenous people, the disabled and other vulnerable groups. Brazil recommended that Mexico (a) consider progressively withdrawing its reservations to international human rights instruments; (b) strengthen efforts to fight poverty; and (c) harmonize national and regional legislation in order to avoid discriminatory practices against women and indigenous peoples. 24. Algeria enquired about legal provisions protecting freedom of religion or belief. It recognized Mexico’s achievements in reducing poverty but was concerned that most of the poor belong to indigenous communities. Algeria recommended that Mexico (a) attach particular attention to indigenous communities in its strategies to reduce poverty and to combat extreme poverty; referring to the 2006 conclusions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), Algeria recommended that Mexico (b) take effective measures to put an end to domestic violence and abuse of children; it further recommended that Mexico (c) ensure the effective access of all children to education, ** Albania, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Greece, Lebanon, Liechtenstein and Slovenia.