A/HRC/18/15 21. Brazil congratulated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for its engagement in the universal periodic review. It noted with appreciation progress made in the areas of health and education. Brazil asked the delegation how its Government intended to address the concerns of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in relation to discrimination against children, especially those belonging to minorities and those with disabilities. Brazil expressed concern about the persistent use of corporal punishment in schools and the very low age applied to criminal responsibility. It also noted with concern the high incidence of violence against women, in particular domestic violence, and the lack of legal and policy instruments to address it. Brazil made recommendations. 22. Malaysia acknowledged the geographical, economic and environmental challenges to improving the socio-economic situation of its people, which could affect negatively the enjoyment of the full range of human rights on the ground. Malaysia noted the emphasis that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines placed on education, aiming at making education at all levels more accessible to a larger section of the population. It noted with appreciation the country’s commitment to ease the financial and economic burdens of the population through social security measures. Malaysia made recommendations. 23. Austria noted the consultations with civil society that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had undertaken in the preparation of its national report. Austria referred to the country’s delays in complying with its reporting obligations to treaty bodies. It also expressed concern about the continued existence of the death penalty in the country’s legal system. Austria expressed concern about the situation in prisons, especially due to overcrowding. It commended the Government’s efforts to address that issue. Austria asked about the timeline of the project to build a new prison, and asked about other planned steps to improve conditions of detention. It also asked for an explanation of the high ratio of incarceration in relation to the country’s overall population. Austria made recommendations. 24. The United States of America commended Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for its attention to combating discrimination against persons with disabilities. It welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and encouraged the country to implement it effectively. The United States remained concerned at the continued reports of violence against women, which was not specifically criminalized in the law, and noted that in many instances domestic violence went unpunished. The United States also remained concerned that homosexual acts were illegal under certain statutes. It made recommendations. 25. Belgium commended the adoption of a specific law on corporal punishment of minors but regretted that the law still authorized beating with a stick, in violation of the prohibition of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments under article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It noted that beating with a stick was widespread in institutions such as schools, in the administration of justice and within the family. It restated that Belgium advocated for the abolition of capital punishment as it had been proven that capital punishment had no deterrent effect and led to many errors and abuses. It made recommendations. 26. Norway noted the retention by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines of the death penalty, but welcomed the fact that there had been no executions for more than 10 years. It raised concern about the reports of violence against women. Norway welcomed the commitment to principles of equality and non-discrimination, the measures taken to address and reduce rates of HIV/AIDS, and the efforts to bridge the gap between prevention and support services. It noted the criminal provisions prohibiting sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. Norway made recommendations. 6