A/HRC/26/14 7. Cyprus had intensified its efforts for closer cooperation with human rights bodies and was now up-to-date with all its treaty reporting obligations. It had ratified, inter alia, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and was promoting the ratification of the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. 8. Cyprus had introduced important initiatives for the promotion and protection of children’s rights. The Government, in collaboration with the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, had promoted new legislation in compliance with international human rights instruments on children’s rights, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In collaboration with the competent government authorities, the media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society, the Commissioner had organized seminars and workshops on empowering children and raising awareness of children’s rights among professionals and society at large. 9. In promoting human rights education, national action plans and projects had been implemented, including multicultural education projects, school curricula reform, measures to combat violence in schools, including bullying, and in-service training for teachers to combat discrimination by promoting tolerance. 10. Regarding women’s rights, Cyprus had consulted widely with women’s organizations in preparation for the restructuring and strengthening of the National Machinery for Women’s Rights. Cyprus was in the process of preparing the new Strategic Plan on Equality 2014–2017 in collaboration with civil society. Within the framework of women’s rights, Cyprus had launched an awareness-raising campaign against trafficking in human beings for sexual and labour exploitation, using the media to disseminate the campaign. More women had been appointed at the decision-making level, and significant efforts had been made to address the issues of labour discrimination and the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap in Cyprus was within the EU average of 16.2 per cent and a special project entitled “Actions for reducing the gender pay gap” had been launched. 11. One of the main priorities for Cyprus was preventing and combating domestic violence. The National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Domestic Violence for the period 2010–2013 aimed to promote concrete policies on a holistic, integrated and systematic basis. 12. Cyprus acknowledged that migration was a major challenge. Within that framework, a series of policy-oriented measures had been adopted, including the signing in December 2012 of a cooperation agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), regular training of staff by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Asylum Support Office, reinforcement of the staff at Kofinou Reception Centre, free education for all migrant children and free medical care for all vulnerable groups. Despite budgetary constraints, Cyprus aimed to maintain free access to health care, particularly for vulnerable groups. 13. Increased efforts to combat trafficking in human beings had included the adoption of relevant legislation and a National Action Plan, training of government officials, the abolition of the so-called “artist’s visa”, awareness-raising campaigns and bilateral cooperation with countries of origin. A bill harmonizing domestic legislation with the 2011 EU directive on trafficking in human beings was under consideration by Parliament. 14. Cyprus was sensitive to issues concerning police ill-treatment and use of force. Special training programmes on human rights issues were provided to all police officers. Several independent bodies had been set up to investigate cases of police ill-treatment. 4