A/HRC/8/44 Page 10 surgery or other treatments for gender identity disorder are recognized as due medical practices. Changing registration of gender is possible by judgment by the family court, if the person concerned fulfils certain conditions. The Government noted it has not yet acceded to the individual communications procedure under any international treaty, and that it is currently considering this matter while it has not yet reached any decision. 30. Slovenia expressed concern, inter alia, about discriminatory provisions in the Civil Code and asked Japan to provide more information on the concrete steps the Government’s Gender Equality Bureau is taking in order to promote non-discrimination and a “gender-free” society. It recommended that Japan adapt national legislation and bring it into line with the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Regarding the requirement for the full integration of a gender perspective in all stages of the UPR, Slovenia asked about Japan’s compliance on this matter and recommended that Japan systematically and continuously integrate a gender perspective in the follow up process to the review. Slovenia asked Japan to provide more information on the right to conscientious objection. 31. Mexico requested further comments from the Government concerning the projects or measures considered for the increased harmonization of legislation with its international obligations, including as regards (i) the criminalisation of torture by taking into account all the elements of article 1 of CAT, and (ii) the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Mexico recommended the establishment of a national human rights institution. It also recommended that Japan re-consider the establishment of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Mexico recommended that Japan consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to CAT, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities as well as to recognize the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive and consider individual communications. With respect to the international standards concerning the rights of the child and women, Mexico would appreciate information on measures that may currently be applied concerning civil rights and protection against violence and trafficking and the necessary support for these victims. 32. The Netherlands highlighted Japan’s accession to the International Criminal Court and asked how it will respond to the recommendations made by the international community and various human rights mechanisms with regard to Japan’s military sexual slavery practices during the Second World War. It also asked how Japan will ensure that convictions under the new lay judge system for 2009 will meet all the legal requirements and safeguards for a fair trial, and how the lay judges will be trained, especially if they are involved in cases where the death penalty is requested. The Netherlands recommended that the possibility of life sentence without parole be added to the range of penalties for heinous crimes and that abolition of the death penalty be considered. It also recommended that Japan adhere to the 1980 Hague Convention of Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.. 33. Brazil thanked Japan for its full support and participation in the Third World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2008. While recognizing measures taken by Japan in various other fields of human rights, it asked Japan about the main concrete steps taken in the promotion and the fulfilment of the rights of the child and of women, about the policy, steps and forward-looking measures taken regarding the issue of torture, the human rights of migrants, and for combating racism and all forms of discrimination, and for further comments on its policy regarding death penalty. Brazil recommended that Japan consider adhering to the compliant procedures of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms