A/HRC/13/5 countering terrorism and a trend towards lesser respect for privacy, and made related recommendations. 81. Ghana commended Norway for best practices including the establishment of several ombudsmen, the allocation of 1 per cent of GDP for development assistance and the policy of one year of paid parental leave. Ghana welcomed the intensifying activities on promoting equality and preventing discrimination including through a 2009-2012 Action Plan. Ghana asked about women earning only 85 per cent of their male counterparts. Ghana looked forward to a strengthened human rights protection in the Constitution. It made a number of recommendations. 82. Singapore wished to record its appreciation for the constructive role Norway played in the Durban Review Conference. Singapore understood that one challenge facing Norway related to the Roma and Romani people and wished to know the status of the request for the establishment of a Roma community centre in Oslo. Singapore asked about the results of a pilot project in 2006 to provide free hours in kindergarten for children in areas with a large proportion of residents with a minority language background. 83. Mauritius asked for the views of Norway on the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food in his report following his mission to WTO. While welcoming Norway’s efforts, Mauritius noted that CEDAW continues to express concern over the persistence of stereotypical cultural attitudes, as reflected for example in the predominance of women in part-time work and significant job segregation. It expressed concern over the high prevalence of domestic violence and its effects on children. It noted reports highlighting that since children serve prison sentences alongside convicted adults and remand inmates, these children spend extended periods of time in isolation. Mauritius made recommendations. 84. Azerbaijan noted the adoption of different action plans as well as the Human Rights Act of 1999, incorporating some core international human rights norms into national legislation and, in that regard, made two recommendations. Azerbaijan requested clarification on the role of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsperson and Tribunal in combating domestic violence and discrimination against women and the measures being implemented to combat discrimination against children on the basis of their religious and ethnic backgrounds. 85. Bangladesh applauded Norway’s laudable role at the national and international level for the promotion and protection of human rights. However, it noted that some concerns expressed by treaty bodies and mandate-holders require serious reflection. Bangladesh stated that in its view, many of the social ills can be remedied by promoting family as a fundamental and natural unit of society and nurturing traditional family values. Bangladesh encouraged Norway to look into this matter. Bangladesh made a number of recommendations. 86. Argentina highlighted the progress achieved in Norway’s legislation to guarantee equality and non-discrimination, and the criminalization and punishing of torture and trafficking of persons. It noted the measures to guarantee the participation of the Sámi population in all decisions that might affect them. It welcomed the ongoing ratification process for a number of instruments. It noted treaty bodies’ concerns of unnecessary and excessive use of police force on ethnic groups. It drew attention to the 48 hours procedure based on which there is an automatic rejection of refugee petitions. Argentina made a number of recommendations. 87. Malaysia expressed its appreciation for Norway’s positive and constructive role in the promotion and protection of human rights. It asked whether in the reported rise on domestic violence, especially with regard to women and children, if the delegation could elaborate on the likely sources of such violence and to indicate whether there is any 12