A/HRC/ 8/28 Page 7 Action Centre; (b) the Community-Based Monitoring System designed to better address poverty at the local level; and (c) how the Government is balancing the effects of migration and the phenomenon of “brain drain”. 17. Singapore commended the Philippines for the gains made in human development and towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals, in particular in the area of women empowerment, and expressed appreciation for the frank national report and the priority given to areas of concern such as combating corruption and extrajudicial killings. It welcomed the President’s leadership in seeking prosecution for extrajudicial killings, the creation of special courts for such cases and the review of the procedures of the Department of National Defence and the Armed Forces to ensure that human rights standards are observed during operations. 18. China appreciated the work in reducing the extreme poverty with a community-based system to assist the poor population. China congratulated the Government for improving the health of its population and appreciated the efforts made by the Philippines to guarantee the rights of women and children and the measures taken to resolve the issue of extrajudicial killings. The commitment to the protection of the rights of migrants was also highlighted. It asked the Philippines to elaborate further on the challenges faced in addressing the issue of trafficking of women and children. 19. Canada was encouraged that the Philippines has expressed its commitment to end extrajudicial killings but remained concerned that hitherto there had been few convictions. It referred to the Task Force USIG, the Melo Commission, and the visit of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Canada appreciated the information provided about the role of the Supreme Court and considered the development of the Writ of Amparo as a positive one. It encouraged follow-up and recommendations on these initiatives, and requested clarifications on the Executive Order which has had an impact on the Writ of Amparo. It was also concerned about the security forces and recommended that the Philippines ensure that members of the security forces are trained on human rights and on their responsibility to protect human rights and human rights defenders. 20. Slovenia thanked the Philippines for its comprehensive national report as well as for its presentation. It took note of the request of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism to undertake a visit to Philippines, underlining that inputs by special procedures can and should form an important and useful input to the UPR review process. Slovenia recommended that the Philippines enable the visit by the Special Rapporteur as soon as possible. It also recommended that it sign and ratify the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and that it report regularly to the Committee against Torture. 21. Cuba noted that the Philippines has managed to make considerable progress in promoting and protecting human rights, particularly the implementation of various ambitious programmes and projects, despite major difficulties. It welcomed these efforts, which demonstrate its commitment to the cause of human rights and its political will to defend them. It asked for additional information on the experience of the Philippines in connection with follow-up programmes in communities to learn poverty indicators, which could be an example of good practice. 22. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea congratulated the Philippines for introducing a comprehensive report. It remarked that as a developing country facing challenges such as economic difficulties and devastating natural disasters, the Philippines has made consistent and energetic