A/HRC/18/8 74. On the issue of education, the delegation acknowledged that because of gender disparities, women in Solomon Islands were generally regarded as having lower status than men. It was also common in the country that females were attending school at lower rate than boys, particularly in middle to higher levels of the education system. Solomon Islands had set that in the education work programme as a priority in achieving equal access to education. The two core objectives of the programme were: 100 per cent enrolment and gender balance. The programme also acknowledged the accessibility for students with disabilities and it was working towards ensuring that education services were available to all children. The delegation took the opportunity to thank New Zealand for assisting Solomon Islands in its efforts to provide free education to all children from primary school to the junior secondary school. It also thanked the United Kingdom and the European Union for their support for the schools’ infrastructures. 75. On the question raised by the Philippines on climate change, the delegation thanked the United Kingdom and the European Union for the climate change adaptation and mitigation funds established to assist them in their climate change challenges. 76. With regard to the issue of birth registration, the delegation acknowledged that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) child protection baseline study carried out in 2008 estimated very low birth registration in Solomon Islands. The National Children’s Policy and Action Plan catered for the promotion of registration of all births to create a protective environment for children. Current developments included the followings: the Government was planning to look at legislative reform in 2011 to support an effective birth registration system. In 2010, the Government piloted a revision of birth registration procedures in three selected locations. UNICEF was currently supporting the strengthening of the operational capacity of the central civil birth registration office and expanding mobile network coverage. The Government, in partnership with UNICEF, was looking at assisting with birth registration via mobile phone. Awareness-raising campaigns were also carried out. 77. Referring to the issue of ratifications of human rights conventions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade was working on the issue with the Attorney-General’s Chamber. Consultations would start mid-June to establish a national treaties advisory committee that would cover human rights committees and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. The dualist legal system requires domestication of international treaties and conventions in order for them to become part of national law. Solomon Islands could not just go ahead with ratification without giving it serious consideration and hence endorsement by Government, through the Cabinet. The Government was looking at the matter in stages, in order to address those issues. 78. In concluding, the delegation indicated that the Government was working hard to ensure that the issues raised could be rectified as they went along. It thanked all delegations for the questions raised and noted that, in spite of the many challenges that Solomon Islands was facing, it was determined and committed to address those issues in the country. Much had been done but more needed to be done. II. Conclusions and/or recommendations 79. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue and listed below have been examined and enjoy the support of Solomon Islands: 79.1. Take the necessary steps towards the establishment of a national human rights institution (NHRI), in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) (Canada); 12