A/HRC/11/19* crimes and strengthen its efforts to address them. It asked how civil society was engaged in the preparation process for the national report. 53. Morocco noted Russia’s cooperation with OHCHR and it welcomed operational domestic mechanisms for defending human rights. It also noted that the national legislation prohibiting and criminalizing any restriction on human rights based on discriminatory grounds. Morocco commended major achievements and tangible progress made by Russia in promoting and protecting the right to equality of its citizens, upholding the rights of ethnic minorities and migrants, the fight against extremism and the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. 54. Georgia recommended that Russia de-occupy the territories of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region including South Ossetia, and until remaining in the territories in question, to comply with the obligation incumbent upon the occupying power by the rules of the international humanitarian law. It further recommended to comply with the provisional measures prescribed by the International Court of Justice and recommended to implement in good faith relevant provisions of the Resolution 1648 (2009) adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. It recommended halting forced distribution of passports certifying Russian citizenship among ethnic Georgians In the occupied territories controlled by the Russian armed forces. It recommended putting an end to all practices limiting and/or violating the human rights of ethnic Georgians in the territories controlled by the Russian armed forces – including, but not limited to, access to education in Georgian language, freedom of movement of ethnic Georgians and right to freely choose the place of their residence. 55. Australia welcomed indications that the rule of law is becoming an increasingly important tool in the protection of human rights in Russia and recommended to take steps to further improve judicial procedures to safeguard human rights. It further recommended to take steps to implement the Russia’s national anti-corruption plan in relation to judicial procedures and adopt measures that corruption of judicial procedures is decreasing. In relation to the issues of vulnerability of journalists and human rights defenders, particularly, the recent deaths of human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, Australia recommended to take measures to protect journalists and other human rights defenders. It also recommended to address the concerns expressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights about the use of torture in the Chechen Republic as well as concerns raised by the Committee Against Torture over many ongoing and consistent allegations of torture and ill-treatment committed by law enforcement personnel as well as reports of torture and ill-treatment in unofficial places of detention in the North Caucasus. It further recommended to accede to the Second OP-ICCPR and to eliminate use of the death penalty. 56. New Zealand while noting the legislative framework put in place to protect human rights indicated that much of the legislative protection is not properly implemented. It welcomed the prioritization of judicial reform and rule of law and asked how proposed reforms incorporate human rights. New Zealand recommended to prioritize the establishment of meaningful and accessible accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency in the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations, provide effective remedies and legal redress for victims, and take measures to increase the independence of the judiciary and strengthen oversight of the implementation, at the State level, of federal human rights legislation and obligations; adopt comprehensive strategy to combat domestic violence. Regarding the marginalization of ethnic and minorities and racially motivated crimes New Zealand recommended to adopt a clear and comprehensive definition of racial discrimination in its legislation; encourage the use of non-custodial options when sentencing or determining pre-trial measures involving pregnant prisoners 12 GE.09-16259