A/HRC/10/29 (a) Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and on the outcome 358. The delegation of Barbados recognized the efforts of OHCHR in providing Member States, especially small delegations like itself, with information and guidance in preparing for the follow-up process to the universal periodic review. It acknowledged the work of the troika of Japan, the United Kingdom and South Africa, which had provided Barbados with a clear sense of the recommendations proposed by delegations. 359. The delegation stated the Government and people of Barbados had always been aware of the need to ensure a minimum basic level of human rights protection for all citizens of the world. The preparation of the report and the consideration of the recommendations for the present session reinforced this view and had been a valuable tool for Barbados to collectively examine its domestic system for the protection of human rights and its international obligations. This assessment exercise provided opportunities, where necessary and practicable, to enhance and improve certain areas of its human rights architecture. 360. It was clear that Barbados would require international financial support and technical assistance from OHCHR, other international institutions and the States Members of the United Nations to establish and maintain certain aspects listed in the recommendations. It called on the international community to support Barbados and other developing countries in this regard. 361. As a small-island developing country with all related economic, security and environmental vulnerabilities, Barbados must approach this process realistically and commit only to those actions that are within its ability to take and maintain. Consequently, the Government of Barbados could not commit, in the short term, to signing new treaties without undertaking a thorough assessment of the nature of the responsibilities involved. Barbados would, however, continue to give thoughtful consideration to signing and ratifying those treaties and optional protocols that were within the limits of its capability and where the reporting obligations were not excessively onerous. 362. The delegation gave its assurance that Barbados intended to improve on its human rights reporting record and accepted the recommendation to do so. It conceded, however, that human resources constraints remained the major impediment to timely reporting and said it would continue to support any capacity-building initiatives developed by OHCHR to assist developing countries in this regard. It added that Barbados was attempting to establish a human rights unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and it looked to organizations and Member States with expertise in this area for guidance and assistance. 363. The Government had undertaken a thorough analysis of the recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review, and the Cabinet of Barbados had taken a number of important decisions relating to human rights. The Cabinet of Ministers had agreed to the abolition of the mandatory application of the death penalty and was in the process of amending the relevant laws to reflect this. The death penalty, however, remained a sentencing option. Barbados was unable to accept the recommendation of its total abolition at this time. It noted that opinion polls and surveys taken in the country showed that public sentiment strongly favoured the retention of the death penalty. 364. As reflected in the formal responses to the review recommendations in the addendum to the Working Group report, Barbados was actively looking at revising its Constitution further and updating its legislation to conform to its treaty obligations. As this exercise unfolded, it would endeavour to keep the Council updated on progress and of any assistance required with regard to legislative drafting. GE.09-17451 143