A/HRC/13/5 racism needs to be countered. Norway welcomes an exchange of experience and best practices with countries with a longer history of diversity. 10. Norway addressed the advance questions. Norway’s national human rights institution monitored and conducted research, education and information-sharing concerning Norway’s human rights situation. 11. Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OP-CAT) was being considered as a matter of priority. 12. Domestic violence and violence against women and children was not a private matter and the Action Plan 2008-2011 targeted police, educational institutions and support services. From January 2010 all local authorities would have a statutory duty to provide shelter and coordinated assistance to victims. 13. Measures to protect victims of human trafficking include temporary residence permits, residence permits for victims who witness in court cases, safe housing, safe repatriation and resettlement and a prohibition on purchasing sexual services. 14. Equal pay for work of equal value was a priority for the Government. Norwegian women participated in the work force almost at the same level as men (79 per cent). Norway also had one of the highest birth rates in industrialized countries. The Norwegian Cabinet consisted of 50 per cent women, the Parliament 40 per cent women and Sámediggi 49 per cent women. 15. An Action Plan for Equality in Early Childhood Education and Primary Education was recently issued. 16. Inmates have the same right to health services as other inhabitants. Concrete measures have been taken to prevent delays in admission in acute situations, but challenges remain concerning prisoners’ mental health. 17. The Government aimed at ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010. The Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act came into effect in 2009 and means are being implemented to improve awareness of and compliance with the new legislation. 18. The Government was working on legal amendments and has recently increased funds to ensure the recruitment of a sufficient number of competent legal guardians for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. 19. All crimes that currently fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court can be prosecuted in Norway. To fight impunity Norway had recently strengthened the National Authority for Prosecution of Organized and Serious Crimes. 20. In order to avoid detention of juveniles, local projects introducing restorative justice measures had been launched and new legislation with regard to alternative sanctions was under consideration. Norway still had 13 juveniles in prison. To avoid juveniles serving their sentences together with adults or in total isolation, Norway was establishing two separate prison units for young offenders. 21. Fighting global poverty was a major human rights challenge. Norway will uphold the policy of allocating a minimum of 1 per cent of its GDP for development assistance. 22. The Vice-President of Sámediggi, Laila Susanne Vars, referred to the positive dialogue with the Government regarding the periodic review. UNESCO had categorized all the Sámi dialects as being among the world’s threatened languages. Sámediggi commended the Government’s action plan for the safeguarding and development of the Sámi language. The closure of local schools and the lack of knowledge of Sámi culture and language in the public health care and prison system represented a threat to the Sámi cultures. 4