A/HRC/18/8 and opportunities for all. It specifically aimed to promote gender equality and full participation of women. 18. The delegation also referred to institutions instrumental to promoting human rights, such as the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsman and a Leadership Code Commission and commended the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands for its role in strengthening the capacity of those institutions. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was also established in 2009, with a mandate to promote national unity and reconciliation. 19. Solomon Islands thanked delegations for their advance questions and provided responses highlighting some challenges. 20. The delegation reported on the approval of a national policy which set out strategic actions and cross-cutting efforts to prevent violence against women, protect victims and to prosecute perpetrators. The policy also recognized the need for significant social, political and economic empowerment of women. Progress had also been made in proposing legislation for trafficking, protection orders for victims of violence in the home, law reform to respond to child abuse, neglect and exploitation. 21. Regarding the promotion of women’s participation in decision-making, the delegation referred to the Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy. Some significant steps had been taken to promote and increase women’s participation in politics, decision-making and leadership. Regarding women, peace and security, there was currently a move to develop a national affirmative/sustain action plan to increase women’s participation. 22. On the issue of land ownership, the delegation indicated that this was one of the root causes of the civil unrest from 1998 to 2003. The Government initiated the Constitutional Reform Programme in 2000 as an initiative to address the issue. Work on the constitutional reform was well advanced, with provincial feedback on the 2009 draft Federal Constitution now being collected. The Government further developed a land reform policy and established the land reform unit, which was working in consultation with land-owning groups to determine tribal boundaries and map the relevant areas concerned. A commission of inquiry into land dealings and lost properties on Guadalcanal in 2007 had also been set up and was now conducting its hearing on abandoned lands. Those initiatives would take time to show results, but they were in progress. 23. Regarding progress made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, especially in terms of what it had done to create the social conditions needed to establish peace in the long term, the delegation reported that Commissioners were appointed in 2009 and operations began in 2010. Significant progress had been made through national and provincial public hearings as well as closed hearings for victims of the tensions. 24. The delegation noted that climate change was a big problem. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, Meteorology and Disaster Management had been established and the National Environment Policy to accommodate both the sector and cross-sector policies for development was being implemented. 25. On the establishment of a national human rights institution, that was dependant on the draft Federal Constitution being passed. Solomon Islands was, however, open to exploring the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution, which was not necessarily hinged on the draft Federal Constitution being passed. 26. The delegation reported that the cultural context of society did not condone samesex relationships. Any commitment to removing Penal Code provisions criminalizing sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex must be subject to consultations. 5