A/HRC/33/11 Population Fund, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United States Agency for International Development for providing financial support for projects in the field of social protection and health care. 76. Access to education had been a priority ever since Tajikistan had gained its independence. A number of laws and regulations had been adopted to ensure universal access to education. A plan of action had been developed to prevent children from becoming involved in begging and ensure that they returned to school. The Government provided financial allowances to enable children from orphanages and low-income families to attend school, in particular to pursue higher education. The school attendance rate remained high. 77. The Government had implemented a range of measures to increase the attendance of girls in secondary education. A special quota system had been implemented to ensure access to higher education for young persons from remote and mountainous areas. 78. The Government had introduced special courses into the school curricula that used, among other methods, computer technology to raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health. 79. Tajikistan provided guarantees to ensure that children from ethnic minorities have access to education in their own languages. A long-term plan had been developed to provide schools with teaching materials in minority languages. A concept document on inclusive education had been adopted and the law on education had been revised accordingly to include the principle of inclusive education. 80. Argentina welcomed the adoption of the programme for human rights education and encouraged Tajikistan to advance its measures to ensure religious tolerance and combat all forms of discrimination against members of religious minorities. 81. Armenia noted that the State had started the process of reforming the judiciary and penitentiaries, increased consultations with the non-governmental sector and provided training for law enforcement officers on combating torture. It welcomed the State’s preparations to ratify further instruments. 82. Australia encouraged Tajikistan to enable the Ombudsman, namely the Commissioner for Human Rights, to operate as an independent institution with the resources necessary to fulfil his or her mandate in conformity with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It commended the adoption of a definition of torture. Australia was concerned about restrictions on freedom of expression. 83. Austria welcomed improvements in the situation of juveniles in detention and the State’s efforts to end child labour. It was concerned about the deterioration in the human rights situation over the previous year, in particular the Government’s actions targeting the political opposition and the restrictions imposed on media freedom and freedom of expression. 84. Azerbaijan appreciated the efforts of Tajikistan to develop the legislative framework in the field of human rights and the strategies adopted in fields such as social protection, women, youth and health care. It commended the State’s efforts to bring its national human rights institution into line with the Paris Principles. 85. Belarus noted with appreciation the State’s commitment to developing its national human rights institutions and ensuring that they operated effectively. It commended Tajikistan for adopting a comprehensive approach to issues related to sustainable development and for measures taken to combat trafficking in persons. 11