A/HRC/32/15 8. Latvia highlighted the importance it attached to its engagement with civil society. It had ensured civil society’s engagement in decision-making at all levels and this collaboration was constantly being strengthened. Transparent and inclusive governance was being promoted through new technologies. Parliamentary and Government meetings were broadcast live on the Internet; citizens could propose new legislation via the Internet. 9. Latvia drew attention to its achievements since the first review in 2011, commencing with the adoption in 2014 of the Preamble of the Constitution which reasserted the principles of democracy, pluralism and human rights embodied the Constitution and also reaffirmed the rights of persons belonging to national minorities to preserve and develop their language and ethnic and cultural identity. In 2013, the Amendments to the Citizenship Law came into force significantly extending the scope for dual citizenship and further simplifying the procedure for granting citizenship and naturalization. For example, citizenship was granted automatically to children of stateless persons and non-citizens. 10. Latvia was pleased to note that in March 2015 the Office of the Ombudsman had been accredited by the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights with “A” status. The Government had constantly increased its funding to ensure its effective functioning. It also noted that in November 2015 a new institution — the Internal Security Office — commenced operations in order to ensure the efficient and independent investigation of criminal offences committed by officials of the law enforcement agencies. 11. Latvia stated that it had acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. It would continue to evaluate the possibility of acceding to other international human rights instruments in due course. 12. Latvia stated that the principles of gender equality were taken into account in every policy planning and policymaking process. The Gender Equality Action Plan (2012-2014) aimed at an efficient, integrated and coordinated approach to gender equality. It noted that in 2015 the Global Gender Gap Report had ranked Latvia among the 20 leading countries in the field of gender equality and the report concluded that Latvia had fully closed the gender gap in the fields of health and survival as well as education attainment. Latvia also noted its strength in women’s economic participation and provided further relevant statistics. Recognizing that there was always room for further improvement, for example, in regard to the gender pay gap, a new policy planning document was being elaborated. 13. Latvia had intensified its efforts to eliminate domestic violence. In 2014, complex amendments introducing temporary protection against violence had entered into force. It had also undertaken to accede to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) by 2018. Other measures that it had implemented included the provision of quality social rehabilitation services, training of experts and public awareness-raising on domestic violence. 14. As a regional leader in the fight against human trafficking, Latvia had continued to strengthen its efforts in this field. A number of improvements to the normative framework had been made, for example, specifying a definition of human trafficking. Other measures related to building the capacity of law enforcement agencies in this field and increased State-funded support for victims, compensation and rehabilitation. 15. Measures to improve conditions of detention in prisons had been reinforced. A comprehensive audit had been carried out in 2013 and 2014 to develop proposals for their improvement. The relevant international standards had been enshrined in the respective legal acts. The reforms in the period from 2011 to 2015 had led to the number of prisoners 4