A/HRC/15/3 42. With respect to the key element of eliminating discriminatory clauses in Kiribati laws, in particular laws relating to land distribution and the political participation of women, the delegation reiterated that an amendment to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution was a precondition for the achievement of that goal. However, the delegation reaffirmed the difficulty of adopting such an amendment and emphasized that the Government intended to come forward with another proposal for such an amendment. 43. The delegation confirmed that corporal punishment had been banned in schools, but had not yet been banned in homes. It noted that, although the issue was being debated, the biggest obstacle was cultural. Public awareness and assistance were required in order to send to parents and guardians the message that corporal punishment was not acceptable. 44. With regard to the issue of climate change, the delegation noted that the impacts of climate change posed human rights problems for low-lying countries such as Kiribati. Climate change was a matter of survival and security. It had already damaged Kiribati’s infrastructure. Coastline erosion and sea-level rise had created many problems for Kiribati. The lack of capacity and resources was exacerbating those problems. Kiribati, as part of its short-term and medium-term strategy, needed an assessment of the level of coastline erosion in order to protect from further degradation. Kiribati was seeking financial and technical assistance from the international community in that regard. 45. Concerning the issue of safe drinking water and sewerage, the delegation noted that the population living on the outer islands normally used boiled water for drinking. In urban areas, there were water catchments for rainfall; the challenge was to ensure a storage facility for such catchments. The Government continued to provide assistance so as to improve access to clean water. The Government also continued to provide assistance in meeting community-based needs for water tanks in order to improve water quality. The delegation stated that Kiribati had established a water and sanitation policy, whose implementation, it was hoped, would improve the situation at the national level with regard to sanitation and water. 46. The delegation stated that the Government planned to improve education, teaching and learning facilities, and resources. The Government had launched a comprehensive education sector strategy plan in 2008 to improve the quality of education, teaching and learning facilities, and resources. Kiribati continued to provide assistance in that regard and would require further financial support from development partners, which would help the Government to provide free education to children. 47. Maldives noted the severe technical and financial capacity constraints faced by Kiribati and its knock-on effects in terms of the promotion and the protection of human rights. It encouraged the Government in its endeavour and its commitment to provide access to free education and health care for all its citizens. Maldives urged Kiribati to proceed with the implementation of its National Action Plan to eliminate gender-based violence. Maldives made a recommendation. 48. The Netherlands commended Kiribati for the ratification of the CRC and the CEDAW, as well as the efforts made to bring national legislation into compliance with those conventions. It noted with concern the results of a 2009 study showing that 68 per cent of the female population had been victims of violence. It was also concerned by the number of laws that were of a discriminatory nature and that the Broadcasting and Publication Authority Act allowed the Government to prohibit freedom of expression. The Netherlands made recommendations. 49. Argentina regretted that, owing to the lack of human and financial resources allotted to the 2009 National Advisory Committee for Children, it had not been enabled to work effectively. Argentina inquired about the measures adopted to implement the recommendations made by UNDP/UNIFEM concerning the constitutional effectiveness of 9