A/HRC/53/12 27. New laws on corporate liability had entered into force in 2022. The delegation noted that, in 2022, a report on the sustainability of the financial market had been adopted. Switzerland had defined the next steps to be taken to prevent greenwashing in the financial markets. Lastly, it was decided that the standards for corporate reporting on climate issues should be made clearer. 28. With regard to issues that fell within the competence of the cantons, the delegation mentioned the fight against discrimination under cantonal integration programmes which, since 2014, had been working to encourage the integration of foreigners at the national level while taking specific local conditions into account. From 2024 onward, these programmes would be complemented by stronger social measures. 29. With regard to cases of racially motivated police violence reported in previous years, the authorities believed that in-depth training and regular awareness-raising efforts were the most effective ways to prevent racial profiling. The cantons were making an active contribution by regularly reviewing their practices, and several had taken steps to increase the efficiency and quality of their oversight measures. 30. Switzerland did not have an institutionalized mechanism for coordinating the efforts of the Confederation and the cantons to implement the universal periodic review recommendations. An interdepartmental working group – the Working Group on Human Rights – coordinated communication with the treaty bodies and the reports for all other international organizations. It ensured that information was distributed to the cantons and coordinated the follow-up and implementation of recommendations. After the fourth cycle of the universal periodic review, a round-table discussion would be held between the Working Group and various stakeholders to develop sound, inclusive implementation strategies. 31. With regard to the fight against climate change within the framework of the Paris Agreement, Switzerland had set itself the target of reducing its emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030 in relation to 1990. The 2030 climate target was subject to the CO 2 Act. On 13 June 2021, the amendment of the third CO2 Act had been rejected by referendum. The Swiss parliament had voted in favour of an indirect counterproposal to the popular initiative known as the Glacier Initiative, the purpose of which was to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. 32. Freedom of expression and freedom of the media were guaranteed in Switzerland by the Federal Constitution and by ratified international instruments. Criticism had been levelled at some legal provisions, but the authorities responsible for enforcing those instruments must in all instances interpret them in the light of the need to uphold freedom of expression and freedom of the media. This was done under court supervision, taking particular account of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. 33. The Federal Council regularly analysed the national legal and political order with a view to ratifying additional instruments. As Switzerland was a State party to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights), the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was not a priority at that time, nor was ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Federal Council would make the necessary clarifications regarding the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2023. 34. The Confederation considered it to be an ongoing duty to combat racism and racial discrimination in all their forms, including their structural dimension, and it coordinated response and prevention measures. Owing to the federal nature of the system and the crosscutting nature of the issues at stake, a multitude of actors and institutions assumed responsibilities in this area. The delegation has described initiatives taken in four areas: (a) monitoring activities have been carried out for a decade now to provide an overview of public attitudes concerning diversity and racism and the scope of reports of racial discrimination; (b) information-sharing and awareness-raising focusing especially on schools but also concerning online racist hate speech; (c) networking and support, in close collaboration with civil society organizations; and (d) protection, with an emphasis on access to counselling and legal safeguards. GE.23-03429 5