A/HRC/12/10 Page 5 18. A number of States welcomed Chile’s ratification of the major international human rights instruments, including ICCPR-OP 2 and CPD-OP, and for announcing a standing invitation to all special procedures. A number of delegations expressed appreciation of Chile’s comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights; its democratic transition and consolidation from a 17-year-long authoritarian regime; and its efforts to seek truth, justice and reparation with regard to the massive and systemic violations of human rights committed in the past. Some States noted Chile’s economic growth with social equity and its successful social policies to combat poverty, noting that Chile had already achieved most of the MDGs. 19. Algeria enquired about the protection of freedom of religion and belief in Chilean legislation. It recommended that Chile (a) give particular attention to indigenous peoples when implementing poverty reduction and alleviation programmes and works towards eliminating any discriminatory measures applied to them; (b) take effective measures to eliminate the many obstacles that prevent women from entering the labour market and include in its legislation the principle of equal pay for equal work and ensure that employers scrupulously observe this principle; (c) guarantee effective access to education for all children, especially those from indigenous communities, refugee children and children whose families live in rural areas or below the poverty line and take effective measures to fight against the factors behind their exclusion from the educational system. 20. China asked what specific experiences Chile could share with developing countries in achieving the MDGs. It asked how the Government was addressing the quality and quantity of homes and urban environmental protection under its State housing-subsidy schemes. 21. Norway welcomed the recent ratification of the ILO Convention No. 169, enquiring as to the degree of its practical implementation. It recommended that Chile (a) intensify its work to improve the situation of its indigenous population; (b) make further efforts and set specific targets to decrease the number of incidents of domestic violence and strengthen the mechanisms and institutions protecting women from domestic violence; (c) continue to reform and upgrade its detention system in order to improve the situation of inmates in prisons. 22. Malaysia asked how inequalities in the standard of living between urban and rural areas were being addressed. It recommended (a) expediting efforts to establish a NHRI in conformity with the Paris Principles; (b) undertaking comprehensive study on the causes and extent of trafficking in persons in Chile, taking into account the origin, transit and destination countries; (c) taking necessary measures to combat the problem of trafficking and exploitation of prostitution, including through national legislation; and (d) continuing to strengthen poverty alleviation efforts, including through programmes for indigenous people. 23. Brazil enquired specifically about women and children and indigenous people. It requested details of Chile’s experience in ensuring access to truth and historical memory, and the specific areas where technical assistance would be welcomed. It recommended that Chile (a) consider ratification of the Rome Statutes of the International Criminal Court and CED; (b) give greater impetus to a policy to prevent, combat and eradicate torture, including the adoption of a definition of torture in accordance with article 1 of CAT; (c) continue its effort to fight against impunity and human rights violations, with particular attention to the rights of indigenous peoples; and (d) implement the voluntary human rights targets approved in Human Rights Council resolution 9/12.