A/HRC/8/44 Page 6 reviewed for the creation of an independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles and hoped for its speedy adoption. While expressing support for Japan’s efforts to promote greater understanding, tolerance and respect for the human rights of minorities and migrants, the Philippines asked Japan to provide more information on their strategies in this respect and suggested that the Government increase opportunities for intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation at the local levels. Philippines also encouraged Japan to further develop appropriate strategies and programmes to counter the negative effects of ‘ijime’ or bullying in schools. 15. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said that military sexual slavery represents crimes against humanity with no statutory limitations and referred to the resolutions of human rights mechanisms which called on Japan to acknowledge legal responsibility for the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery of 200,000 people, bring the perpetrators to justice and compensate the victims. Reference was also made to the serious concerns expressed and recommendations made by two human rights treaty bodies and to the resolutions adopted by parliaments of many countries and the European Parliament, which called on Japan to address this problem. The Delegation recommended that Japan take concrete measures to address, once and for all, the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery and other violations committed in the past in other countries, including Korea. The Delegation referred to the conclusions of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism that there existed discrimination against Koreans in Japan in such areas as political participation, employment, housing, marriage, and education. It also referred to concerns expressed by three treaty bodies on the enforced change of Korean names into Japanese, the refusal to recognize Korean schools, the inequalities in access of Koreans to higher education institutions. The Delegation recommended that Japan take measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against Koreans. It also expressed concern at the continued distortion of history in Japan, since this is indicative of the refusal to address past violations and the danger of its reoccurrence, and recommended immediate measures to address the situation, as also called for by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism. 16. Belgium referred to the reports of treaty bodies concerning the inadequacy of appeal proceedings against death sentences and asked about the expected impact of the 2009 reform of the judicial system with the introduction of popular juries. It also asked about the Government’s position on recent parliamentary initiatives to enable judges to propose alternatives to the death penalty, such as life imprisonment without early release. Belgium also noted concerns about the prolonged detention in police stations “daiyo kangoku” (substitute prison), the high conviction rate and that several recent cases have indicated that forced confessions have been made, giving rise to regrettable judicial errors. Belgium recommended that in order to avoid the police and the judiciary putting excessive pressure on an accused person to confess: (i) there should be more systematic and intensive work to bring the risk of forced confession to the attention of the police, (ii) interrogation monitoring procedures should be reviewed, (iii) the use of prolonged police detention should be reexamined and (iv) the Criminal Code should be reviewed to ensure its conformity with article 15 of the Convention against Torture. 17. Malaysia noted with interest the various achievements made by the Government in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including the Barrier-free Spirit, and wished to learn more about the cooperation between the public and private sectors in providing disabledfriendly facilities in the public sphere detention as well as about the detention of foreigners, including the “daiyo kangoku” (substitute prison). 18. China welcomed the implementation of comprehensive legal support and awareness activities, including on child abuse and child pornography. China also referred to some historic