A/HRC/12/14
Page 11
(b) taking appropriate action in order to put into place free primary school education for all and
to make primary education compulsory; and (c) establishing a national human rights institution
in compliance with the Paris Principles.
42.
Japan welcomed enactment of the Family Protection Act, adding that it would lead to the
promotion and protection of women’s rights. It said that although the Constitution guarantees
basic rights and freedoms, full understanding of these rights by Government, judicial officials,
and citizens was vital for their promotion and protection. Japan recommended (a) exhaustively
conducting human rights education and awareness-raising activities to inform all citizens of their
rights; (b) acceding to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the
Convention against Torture, making good use of technical assistance from OHCHR.
43.
Asking whether Vanuatu has established a mechanism to ensure the full implementation
of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
and how climate change impacts are affecting the enjoyment of core rights in Vanuatu, Maldives
recommended (a) considering establishing a national human rights commission. Noting that
Vanuatu acting alone cannot fully protect those rights put at risk by global climate change,
Maldives recommended (b) that the international community, led by the major industrialized
economies, help promote and protect human rights in Vanuatu by reducing greenhouse gas
emissions to “safe” levels that are consistent with full enjoyment of human rights, and by
funding adaptation measures to help Vanuatu cope with those changes that are already taking
place.
44.
Latvia was pleased at Vanuatu’s announcement extending a standing invitation to special
procedures of the Human Rights Council. Latvia invited other countries to follow this
commendable example.
45.
With regard to the promotion and protection of human rights of women and children,
Malaysia asked if Vanuatu could elaborate on whether it would be in a position to take on board
the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, specifically those stated in pages 4 and 5 of the
compilation report. Malaysia recommended (a) considering stepping-up measures to
comprehensively address the problem of violence against women, including by increasing public
awareness campaigns to sensitize the community on the issue; (b) addressing the problem of
disparities in the delivery of and access to quality basic social services such as health, education,
water and sanitation services; and (c) continuing engaging members of the international donor
community with a view to building capacity, particularly with regard to securing improvements
in the economic and social rights situation of its population.
46.
The Czech Republic expressed appreciation for the establishment of the independent
Ombudsman’s office, and recommended (a) continuing to strengthen its role, including its ability
to follow up on the results of its investigations, and namely to increase efforts to provide it with
sufficient funding. Welcoming the elaboration of the National Programme of Action for Children
and the recent initiative to establish Child Desk Officers within the Department of Women’s
Affairs, it recommended (b) pursuing this initiative and intensification of efforts to ensure access
to free education compulsory for all children in the country. It sought further information about
the UNICEF Child Protection Baseline study and plans for the implementation of its
conclusions. The Czech Republic recommended that (c) acceding to the Convention against
Torture and its Optional Protocol; (d) reviewing conditions in prison and detention facilities, in
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