A/HRC/18/9 public sphere and better equal participation in the economic sphere. Argentina made recommendations. 45. Brazil acknowledged the important role of Latvia in promoting the issuance of a standing invitation to special procedures. It referred to the concerns expressed by United Nations human rights mechanisms and civil society at the persistence of the issue of noncitizens. It acknowledged Latvia’s efforts to promote the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Brazil asked Latvia to comment on the impact that the financial crisis had on the enjoyment of social, economic and cultural rights. Brazil made recommendations. 46. Lithuania noted the efforts undertaken by Latvia in guaranteeing human rights principles, although it acknowledged that some challenges remained. It welcomed Latvia’s initiative to prepare cross-regional statements at the Human Rights Council concerning standing invitations to the special procedures. Thanking the delegation for their replies to their advance questions, Lithuania made recommendations. 47. Australia commended Latvia on its actions to combat discrimination and promote tolerance and on acceding to core human rights treaties. It expressed concern that the death penalty remained at the domestic level. While noting that Latvia has significantly decreased the number of non-citizens, Australia encouraged Latvia to take steps to decrease further the number of non-citizens and improve social and political rights of non-citizens. Australia made recommendations. 48. Chile commended the measures taken by Latvia to promote and protect human rights, such as the adoption of a program to prevent trafficking in persons, the increase in school enrolment of boys and girls and the fact that treaties are part of the domestic legal order and have primacy. It noted the main national priorities for Latvia, particularly the measures aimed at eliminating hate crimes through information and education and early detection and definition of these crimes. Chile made recommendations. 49. Hungary commended Latvia on its steps to combat human trafficking. It welcomed the moratorium on the death penalty in addition to the abolition of capital punishment for crimes committed in peacetime, but noted that the Criminal Code still contains provisions on the death penalty during wartime. Hungary enquired whether strengthening of the Ombudsman’s office would provide additional tools to protect victims of domestic violence. Hungary made recommendations. 50. The Netherlands noted that Latvia was one of the first states to issue a standing invitation to human rights special procedures. It stated that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people may suffer discrimination and be subject to hate speech. It also highlighted the high number of non-citizens, representing about 15 per cent of the population and the concerns raised by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee against Torture, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Special Rapporteur on racism, among others, about the integration of non-citizens. The Netherlands made recommendations. 51. Palestine noted with appreciation Latvia’s close cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It also noted that Latvia is party to the main international human rights instruments, including the Palermo Protocol that has become part of the national legal system. Palestine made recommendations. 52. Mexico acknowledged Latvia’s efforts to improve the legal and institutional framework by, inter alia, the establishment of the Ombudsman and the adoption of a law to combat discrimination against persons with disabilities. It encouraged Latvia to give priority to the development and consolidation of the work done by the Ombudsman, as well 8