A/HRC/27/4 victims of trafficking and asked whether that had increased early identification of victims. It made recommendations. 93. The Russian Federation welcomed the national report presented by Albania and noted the difficult human rights situation in the country. The Russian Federation made recommendations. 94. Rwanda commended the adoption of the National Strategy on Gender Equality and Reduction of Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence for 2011-2015. It commended steps to combat corruption, including restricting the immunity of high-level officials. It noted the number of women holding public and political positions. Rwanda made recommendations. 95. Saudi Arabia noted the steps taken to implement recommendations made during the first UPR cycle. It particularly commended efforts to ensure the protection of rights of persons with disabilities, through appropriate legislation and their inclusion in the National Strategy for Development and Integration and the Strategy on Employment and Professional Training. Saudi Arabia made recommendations. 96. Serbia commended improvements to the institutional framework and the capacity of independent institutions, and encouraged further progress. Serbs had been unable to declare their ethnicity during the 2011 census. It urged Albania to adopt a law on national minorities, to ensure that all minorities could exercise their rights equally. Serbia made recommendations. 97. Romania noted that Albania had overcome a history of dictatorship and had made impressive progress in human rights. However, the effective protection and implementation of the rights of persons belonging to minorities remained a priority. The distinction between national and ethno-linguistic minorities could be contrary to the principle of nondiscrimination. Romania made recommendations. 98. Responding to questions concerning blood feuds, the delegation of Albania stated that the Government had carried out public awareness campaigns and had worked with NGOs and the National Reconciliation Committee to address the issue. The authorities had been proactive in gathering police intelligence to identify and prevent such crimes, and had provided police protection to families in conflict. As a result, few blood-feud deaths had occurred in 2013. 99. Responding to questions on minority rights, the delegation stated that a road map was being prepared to protect national minorities’ rights. A working group had been established to review existing legislative and institutional frameworks and address complaints from minorities. The working group, comprising the Ombudsman, the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination and representatives of civil society, would present conclusions and proposals for improvements to the legal framework by the end of 2014. Those proposals would also address the distinction between the two categories of minorities identified. The process to reform property rights would further be completed by the end of 2014. 100. The delegation stated that civil society had been actively involved in various government initiatives and had participated in the monitoring of national institutional bodies. For example, civil society representatives were part of the National Council for Protection of the Rights of the Child, participating in monitoring the child protection system. 101. Albania had joined the global fight against discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, and measures were being implemented in collaboration with relevant government structures, civil society, international organizations, academia and independent institutions, including legislative review, public awareness activities, and capacity-building 13

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