A/HRC/WG.6/1/IND/4 page 12 53. Italy asked for additional information on (i) human rights education relating to traditional practices and customs and scheduled castes and tribes (ii) the National Child Labour Project. Italy recommended the strengthening of human rights education specifically in order to address effectively the phenomenon of gender-based and caste-based discrimination. It also recommended that steps be taken towards the ratification of the Convention against Torture. 54. Latvia noted India’s positive cooperation with the special procedures and stated that it would like India to consider extending a standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council. 55. Venezuela stated that it valued the efforts made by India to promote and protect human rights. Venezuela emphasized that it attached, like India, particular importance to matters related to health and referred to the health insurance scheme for workers in the informal sector, which was referred to in India’s report. Venezuela emphasized that this issue is also under discussion in Venezuela and that workers in that part of the economy should enjoy the benefits of social security, and that there should be equal conditions for those working in the informal or formal sector or the public and private sector. It wished to know more about the scheme as well as the scope and prospects for the Indian Government to implement it. 56. Switzerland referred to the reported cases of torture noted by the Human Rights Committee and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and welcomed India’s signature of the Convention against Torture and its determination to ratify it. It, therefore, recommended that India ratify the Convention as soon as possible. Additionally, it encouraged India to respond favourably to the renewed request made by the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture to be permitted to carry out a mission to the Indian territory as soon as possible. Lastly, it recommended that a standing invitation be extended by India to all the Council’s special procedures. 57. South Africa stated that its delegation was encouraged by India’s approach to embracing pluralism within the context of the promotion and protection of human rights. It also paid tribute to the efforts played by India in support of the struggle for freedom during the apartheid era. South Africa would appreciate receiving further information on (i) the functioning and results pertaining to the national commissions created to deal with minorities and vulnerable groups and (ii) the system of the distribution of food and its application across all sections of the population. 58. Azerbaijan asked India to elaborate on (i) what practical measures were being taken to fight poverty, (ii) what are the difficulties experienced by Scheduled Castes and Tribes in terms of their human rights, (iii) what national plans exist on Internally Displaced Persons and what access is given to international humanitarian organizations to internal displacement affected regions, (iv) school attendance of children in rural regions, and (v) human rights training among police and security forces. 59. The Islamic Republic of Iran commended India on its valuable efforts and commitments for the promotion and protection of human rights and asked that India provide further details on (i) the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the right to development, (ii) measures taken to develop a culture of human rights, and (iii) the role that civil society and the national human rights institution can play in this regard.