A/HRC/17/8 support this policy. Areas of action included language, education, employment, rule of law, social services and health, intercultural dialogue, leisure and sports, housing and the regional dimension. An expert commission including civil society organisations closely followed up on the implementation of the Action Plan. 16. Austria was committed to further advance the protection and promotion of the rights of the Slovenian and the other five autochthonous national minorities in Austria. The educational, socio-economic and legal situation of minorities in Austria was presently reviewed by different expert groups with all relevant stakeholders. The aim was to amend and adapt the National Minority Act by next year. Concerning the bilingual topographical signs in Carinthia, the government was committed to fully implement Austria’s obligations under the State Treaty of 1955. Constructive negotiations were being held between all stakeholders with the aim of finding a sustainable solution soon. 17. Gender equality, including in the labour market, was considered a major issue. Measures had been taken to end inequalities. A National Action Plan had been presented in June 2010. The Law on Equal Treatment had recently been amended to ensure greater transparency with regard to incomes in the private sector. In addition, 50 per cent of the national budget for labour market policy was being spent on specific programmes to improve women’s chances on the labour market, inter alia through capacity-building and training. 18. Victims of domestic violence received free legal and psychosocial support to help them secure their rights in criminal procedures. Domestic violence cases were covered by prosecutors with special training. Victims could also rely on a well-established system of crisis intervention centres in all federal regions: There were 21 State-financed women’s shelters with 750 places and a 24-hour hotline. 19. The revised Violence Protection Law of 2009 had furthermore introduced new and stricter sanctions in case of continuous violence. Migrant women who had come to Austria on the basis of family reunification were in a particularly vulnerable position to become victims of domestic violence. Austrian legislation therefore provided for the possibility of granting them a separate residence permit to protect them from further violence. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 20. During the interactive dialogue, 54 delegations made statements. A number of delegations welcomed the comprehensive national report, Austria’s participation in and commitment to the UPR as well as the participative approach for the preparation of the report and the involvement of NGOs in the follow-up to the review. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 21. Algeria noted the lack of consensus to include social rights in the Constitution and inquired about the causes of this situation. Algeria mentioned difficulties for the consecration of gender equality and made reference to reported racist and xenophobic behaviours targeting specific groups. Algeria noted that Austria was not ready to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Algeria made recommendations. 22. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland commended Austria’s commitment to implement the 2001 judgment of the Constitutional Court regarding the Slovenian minority. It welcomed the National Plan for Integration. The United Kingdom requested information on measures to remedy the reluctance of victims of discrimination to bring cases to courts. It was concerned about persistent inequalities regarding the status of same-sex partners. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 5