A/HRC/18/15 34. Regarding street children, the delegation referred to the existence of a rehabilitation project and a pilot programme to get those children back to school and reconcile them with their parents, and to the investment in improving facilities for children who did not have a home. 35. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines noted that it had voted against United Nations resolutions calling for a moratorium on the death penalty as such resolutions were inconsistent with existing national legislation. However, although the specific legislation on the death penalty had not been amended, a series of judicial rulings had limited the scope and applicability of capital punishment in the national context. Courts had removed the death penalty as a mandatory sentence, and had reserved capital punishment for only the most heinous crimes. Additionally, persons who had been on death row for over five years had their sentences commuted to life in prison. Since it was not currently possible for a prisoner to exhaust his appeals in a five-year period, it was not possible in practice to impose the death penalty, which had not been exercised since 1995. The delegation encouraged States with civil law jurisdictions to consider the ways in which judicial precedent could alter the applicability of legislation in common law jurisdictions. 36. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomed the focus of many States’ comments on the right to development and their recognition of its efforts in that regard. Development was viewed as a means by which other human rights could be further enhanced. In turn, education was the key to national development. The State had therefore invested heavily in improving preschool, primary and tertiary education in recent years. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expressed its gratitude to States that had assisted the country with its national development efforts. 37. Honduras congratulated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the support provided for the creation of the foundation to promote the cultural heritage of the Garifuna people. While aware of the efforts and initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights, Honduras expressed concern about gender violence and the opportunities of children and adolescents to education. It asked if the country had considered extending an open and standing invitation to the United Nations special procedures mechanisms. Honduras made recommendations. 38. Spain congratulated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the initiatives taken to combat HIV/AIDS and encouraged it to continue its efforts in this area. Spain also welcomed the programme of action in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for 2008-2011. Spain noted the efforts to build a new State prison and encouraged the country to take measures to end overcrowding and address the conditions of prisoners. Spain made recommendations. 39. South Africa welcomed the focus placed on poverty reduction. It also commended the focus on economic growth, job creation, education, health, social security and infrastructure development. South Africa encouraged Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to see to it that that the policies aimed at poverty reduction were allocated the necessary resources to ensure that they were effectively implemented. South Africa asked the delegation to provide further information on racial discrimination affecting children and the steps being taken to combat and prevent all discrimination against children. South Africa made recommendations. 40. Slovenia commended the determination of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to alleviate poverty and to empower the people by improving the educational system. It welcomed the country’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Slovenia inquired about measures taken by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to improve food security, especially for children. Slovenia made recommendations. 8