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tool to allow the Council to address human rights situations on the ground. It will make every effort to guarantee the integrity and independence of those special

make every effort to guarantee the integrity and independence of those special procedures.

procedures. 8. Belgium will continue its active cooperation with the special procedures, in

8. Belgium will continue its active cooperation with the special procedures, in accordance with its standing invitation issued in 2001. Belgium has received the

accordance with its standing invitation issued in 2001. Belgium has received the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery (2015), the Working Group of

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery (2015), the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2006), the Special Rapporteur on the sale of

Experts on People of African Descent (2006), the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (2000) and the Special

children, child prostitution and child pornography (2000) and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers (1997). Belgium will, as in

Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers (1997). Belgium will, as in the past, reply promptly to communications by Special Rapporteurs and follow up

the past, reply promptly to communications by Special Rapporteurs and follow up actively on their recommendations.

actively on their recommendations. 9. Belgium will continue its full engagement with the universal periodic review

9. Belgium will continue its full engagement with the universal periodic review mechanism and ensure an effective follow-up to recommendations as accepted

mechanism and ensure an effective follow-up to recommendations as accepted during its review. Both the preparation of its next universal periodic review report

during its review. Both the preparation of its next universal periodic review report and the follow-up of the recommendations will be carried out in close consultation

and the follow-up of the recommendations will be carried out in close consultation with civil society.

with civil society. 10. Moreover, Belgium will continue to play an active part in enabling the

10. Moreover, Belgium will continue to play an active part in enabling the universal periodic review to remain an efficient and reliable instrument of the

universal periodic review to remain an efficient and reliable instrument of the Council that contributes to specific improvements in the human rights situation in

Council that contributes to specific improvements in the human rights situation in every State Member of the United Nations. In this context, Belgium will do its

every State Member of the United Nations. In this context, Belgium will do its utmost all efforts to consolidate this constructive and transparent dialogue between

utmost all efforts to consolidate this constructive and transparent dialogue between all States, with the input of relevant expert bodies in the United Nations human

all States, with the input of relevant expert bodies in the United Nations human rights system and of civil society.

rights system and of civil society. 11. Belgium will, in accordance with both its internal policies and legislation and

11. Belgium will, in accordance with both its internal policies and legislation and its foreign policy, pay due attention to civil society and ensure that it continue to

its foreign policy, pay due attention to civil society and ensure that it continue to play an active role in the functioning of the Council.

play an active role in the functioning of the Council. Supporting and strengthening the other organs of the United Nations

Supporting and strengthening the other organs of the United Nations human rights system

human rights system 12. Belgium is committed to mainstreaming human rights throughout the United

12. Belgium is committed to mainstreaming human rights throughout the United Nations.

Nations. 13. The Third Committee of the General Assembly must, through its activities and

13. The Third Committee of the General Assembly must, through its activities and along with the Council, continue to contribute dynamically to the promotion and

along with the Council, continue to contribute dynamically to the promotion and protection of human rights. Consequently, Belgium will continue to support to this

protection of human rights. Consequently, Belgium will continue to support to this universal organ in order to treat both thematic and geographic issues so as to

universal organ in order to treat both thematic and geographic issues so as to achieve progress in the implementation of human rights standards.

achieve progress in the implementation of human rights standards. 14. Belgium has supported the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner

14. Belgium has supported the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) since its creation and will continue to do so. The

for Human Rights (OHCHR) since its creation and will continue to do so. The independence and the impartiality of OHCHR must be safeguarded, given that these

independence and the impartiality of OHCHR must be safeguarded, given that these are essential conditions to enable it to promote and protect human rights. Most of

are essential conditions to enable it to promote and protect human rights. Most of the contributions of Belgium during the past decade were not earmarked and, where

the contributions of Belgium during the past decade were not earmarked and, where there was any earmarking, it was light, in full respect of the autonomy of OHCHR.

there was any earmarking, it was light, in full respect of the autonomy of OHCHR. Belgium will continue to provide contributions to activities aimed at the promotion

Belgium will continue to provide contributions to activities aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights, including contributions to other relevant funds of

and protection of human rights, including contributions to other relevant funds of the United Nations.

the United Nations. 15. Belgium reiterates its strong support for the treaty bodies, which are at the

15. Belgium reiterates its strong support for the treaty bodies, which are at the heart of the global human rights framework and play a fundamental role in

heart of the global human rights framework and play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting human rights at the national level. Belgium attaches great

promoting and protecting human rights at the national level. Belgium attaches great importance to their effective functioning. It commits itself to further encouraging

importance to their effective functioning. It commits itself to further encouraging the universal ratification and full implementation of major human rights treaties.

the universal ratification and full implementation of major human rights treaties. Belgium will continue its active cooperation with the treaty body committees

Belgium will continue its active cooperation with the treaty body committees through the timely submission of its periodic reports, by entering into interactive

through the timely submission of its periodic reports, by entering into interactive dialogue at the oral presentation of its reports and by actively implementing the

dialogue at the oral presentation of its reports and by actively implementing the committees’ recommendations. Belgium does not have any overdue reports at

committees’ recommendations. Belgium does not have any overdue reports at present and has established a national mechanism to ensure the regular follow-up of

present and has established a national mechanism to ensure the regular follow-up of treaty body recommendations.

treaty body recommendations. 16. The third report on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and

16. The third report on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the fifth report on the

Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the fifth report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the combined sixteenth to nineteenth reports on the implementation of the

Rights, the combined sixteenth to nineteenth reports on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the first report on the implementation of the International Convention for the

the first report on the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the first report on the

Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the first report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the

implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the seventh report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All

seventh report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women have recently been examined by the

Forms of Discrimination against Women have recently been examined by the respective committees.

respective committees. 17. In this context, Belgium attaches great importance to an open and constructive

17. In this context, Belgium attaches great importance to an open and constructive dialogue with civil society.

dialogue with civil society. Stronger action in the area of human rights

Stronger action in the area of human rights 18. Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law are

18. Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law are long-standing priorities of Belgium. It is a strong supporter of the International

long-standing priorities of Belgium. It is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and is one of the main initiators of a proposal for a multilateral

Criminal Court and is one of the main initiators of a proposal for a multilateral treaty for mutual legal assistance and extradition for domestic prosecution of the

treaty for mutual legal assistance and extradition for domestic prosecution of the most serious international crimes. At the high-level meeting of the General

most serious international crimes. At the high-level meeting of the General Assembly in September 2012, Belgium reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law

Assembly in September 2012, Belgium reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law by making 17 pledges.

by making 17 pledges. 19. Respect for the physical integrity of every person will receive special

19. Respect for the physical integrity of every person will receive special attention. Together with other main sponsors, Belgium will continue to put the

attention. Together with other main sponsors, Belgium will continue to put the question of the death penalty on the agenda of the Council to trigger a substantive

question of the death penalty on the agenda of the Council to trigger a substantive debate on the issue from a human rights perspective and to move forward on the

debate on the issue from a human rights perspective and to move forward on the goal of universal abolition.

goal of universal abolition. 20. Enhancing equality and countering discrimination, with particular attention to

20. Enhancing equality and countering discrimination, with particular attention to the rights of women, children and vulnerable persons, remain a major focus of the

the rights of women, children and vulnerable persons, remain a major focus of the policies of Belgium, both nationally and internationally.

policies of Belgium, both nationally and internationally. 21. Promoting decent work and social protection for all and respect for

21. Promoting decent work and social protection for all and respect for international labour standards are part of this policy. Inclusive economic growth is a

international labour standards are part of this policy. Inclusive economic growth is a tool to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.

tool to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. 22. Addressing the scourge of racism forms another aspect of this policy. All

22. Addressing the scourge of racism forms another aspect of this policy. All potential victims of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance must benefit

potential victims of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance must benefit from the same attention and protection. Following its active participation in the

from the same attention and protection. Following its active participation in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related

World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 and its close involvement in the

Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 and its close involvement in the Durban Review Conference in Geneva in 2009, Belgium was represented at the

Durban Review Conference in Geneva in 2009, Belgium was represented at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on 22 September 2011 in New York to

high-level meeting of the General Assembly on 22 September 2011 in New York to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and

commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Programme of Action. 23. Along with Slovenia, Belgium introduced its biennial resolution on the

23. Along with Slovenia, Belgium introduced its biennial resolution on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly. By doing so, Belgium sought to

at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly. By doing so, Belgium sought to draw attention to the importance of the Convention, which celebrates its fiftieth

draw attention to the importance of the Convention, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2015, and to promote its implementation.