A/HRC/15/3 57. Latvia referred to the issue of a standing invitation, while noting that no requests for visits had been made so far. Latvia made a recommendation in that regard. 58. Morocco welcomed the priority accorded by Kiribati to climate change, as well as the efforts to compensate for the effects of climate change. Morocco requested information about the harmonization of national laws with international standards, particularly in relation to women and children, asking to what extent UNICEF assisted with the implementation of the rights of the child. It also asked about the measures envisaged for the follow-up on the report on the study of the family and the results of the survey by the World Health Organization on violence against women. It made recommendations. 59. Indonesia noted that there was no national human rights institution in Kiribati and commended the Government for its expressed willingness to work with the international community to establish one. It shared Kiribati’s concerns about the effects of climate change and the detrimental impact on the right to a clean environment, clean water and livelihood security. It noted that the provisions of the CEDAW and the CRC, which had been ratified by Kiribati, had to be fully incorporated into domestic legislation. Indonesia made recommendations. 60. The Philippines commended Kiribati for having ratified the CEDAW and the CRC, and it noted Kiribati’s plans to ratify other international human rights treaties. It congratulated Kiribati on the formulation of its first National Action Plan to eliminate gender-based violence, viewing it as a positive step towards the finalization of a national policy and action plan on disability issues. The Philippines understood the Government’s focus on urgently addressing the devastating effects of climate change, stating that small island States such as Kiribati needed the sustained support of the international community in order to adapt to climate change. The Philippines made recommendations. 61. Concerning the issue of sexual orientation, the delegation appreciated the existence of homosexuality and the need to include it as a prohibited discriminatory ground in the Constitution. However, the delegation reiterated the high threshold required in order to adopt an amendment to the Bill of Rights. The same would apply to the issue of discrimination against women. 62. The delegation stated that a legislative reform on child protection had been undertaken. The delegation noted that conducting awareness-raising programmes throughout the country regarding legislative reform was a daunting task, and it acknowledged the assistance provided by UNICEF in that regard. 63. With respect to the issue of violence against children, the delegation stated that legislative reform was needed in order to comply with the CRC, which might take some time. Kiribati had begun the process. 64. The delegation stated that Kiribati was finalizing its national policy on disabilities, which would be effective from 2010 to 2014; what remained was Cabinet approval. A draft action plan on disabilities was attached to the policy, which awaited the Government’s endorsement. The Government was providing support to people with disabilities through the provision of land, homes and financial resources. The delegation stated that Kiribati was collecting data regarding people with disabilities. As its islands were scattered over a wide area, Kiribati had few data concerning people with disabilities, which would be required in order for the Government to make future plans and take effective decisions. The Government hoped to endorse the policy and action plan once the information/data had been analysed. 65. Concerning the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the national report, the delegation stated that the Government and non-governmental organizations had played an equal part in the process. The participation of non- 11