A/HRC/18/9 are not recognized as national minorities by the legislation and put beyond the framework of the relevant international treaties. Thus, they were deprived of fundamental rights and freedoms. It stated that the Russian-language information and cultural-educational space was reduced. The Russian Federation expressed concern about the increase in neo-Nazism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. It made recommendations. 29. Uzbekistan noted with appreciation the recent steps taken by Latvia to protect human rights and establish the Office of the Ombudsman. It expressed concerns about overcrowding in penitentiary institutions. It also referred to children with minor disabilities who were frequently institutionalized due to the lack of child-care capacity. Uzbekistan made a recommendation. 30. Poland expressed its appreciation for the continued efforts made by Latvia to strengthen its national human rights system. It welcomed all the pledges made by Latvia while seeking election to the Human Rights Council. It noted that in spite of efforts undertaken, including the launch of special programmes, inequalities in the enjoyment of human rights in some areas still persisted. Poland made recommendations. 31. The Republic of Moldova noted that Latvia was party to the main international human rights instruments. It recalled that the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography had encouraged Latvia to allocate sufficient funds to all child protection programs. The Republic of Moldova also referred to the recommendations made by the Committee against Torture and the Committee on the Rights of the Child to continue adopting measures to prosecute and punish those responsible for trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation. It made recommendations. 32. Algeria noted that the economic reforms and efforts undertaken by the Government had enabled Latvia to be among the first 50 countries in the Human Development Index. It welcomed the actions carried out by Latvia in the fields of social integration and the fight against discrimination. Algeria encouraged Latvia to step up its efforts to implement the Program for the Elimination of Domestic Violence and ensure wider education on the subject. Algeria made recommendations. 33. Estonia commended Latvia for the establishment of the National Human Rights Office in 1995 and the ratification of core international human rights instruments. It also welcomed the steps taken to combat human trafficking and the ratification of the Palermo Protocol, as well as the special attention given to the protection of women’s rights. Estonia commended Latvia for its achievements in the naturalization process. It stated that the Government’s integration strategy has resulted in the protection of ethnic minorities. 34. Canada commended Latvia for its initiatives in the field of human rights, such as its active engagement in combating human trafficking, labour exploitation and smuggling of illegal immigrants. It welcomed Latvia’s ongoing efforts to improve the integration of immigrants and refugees. Canada praised the efforts to establish a system for the reintegration of convicts in places of imprisonment and to clients of the State Probation Service. Canada made recommendations. 35. France enquired about Latvia’s intention to amend its Constitution and legislation in order to include the principle of gender equality and to strengthen its legislation to prohibit and repress all forms of discrimination, particularly on the basis of race and sexual orientation. France also requested whether Latvia considered defining new guidelines in its integration and national identity policy. France asked about the relevant stakeholders in the elaboration of the new programme on society integration. Finally, it stressed the high number of “non citizens and stateless persons” living in the country and enquired about the measures that Latvia intended to take to provide them with citizenship. France made recommendations. 6