A/HRC/18/8 did not affect the right of any parent or any other person having the control of a child to administer reasonable punishment to a child. “Reasonable” must be consistent with the constitutional right to be free from torture and it was usually determined by the court on a case-by-case basis. The review of the Penal Code was looking at whether any further provision or guidance should be given in the law about when corporal punishment was lawful. 54. On issues surrounding sexual relationships between consenting adults of the same sex, as raised by Brazil, the delegation indicated that it was being dealt under the review of the Penal Code. 55. The United States of America commended Solomon Islands on holding of national elections in 2010 and efforts made, with the assistance of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, to address police corruption and impunity and reduce the backlog of cases before the courts. It expressed concern regarding human rights problems, including, lengthy pretrial detention, Government corruption, and violence and discrimination against women. It noted male dominance in Government and that violence against women remained a serious problem. Additionally, it noted that children and foreign women were often subjected to forced prostitution and that local children were victims of domestic servitude. It encouraged the country to investigate and prosecute human trafficking. It made recommendations. 56. Slovenia acknowledged the fragile economic and political situation of Solomon Islands, resulting from civil unrest in the near past. It commended the National Plan of Action for Human Rights outlined in 2010, in which the establishment of a national human rights institution was considered. It encouraged the Government to address the widespread use of corporal punishment of children. It expressed concern about child prostitution and asked what measures would be taken in that regard. Slovenia was also concerned by the prevalence of domestic physical and sexual violence against women, which was considered in Solomon Islands to be a private issue, a position which results in impunity. It made recommendations. 57. Germany asked what measures had been undertaken to grant equal access to justice to all. It inquired about measures adopted to educate the population on the rights of women and equal rights of women and men. Germany also asked about efforts made to follow up recommendations by the Committee on the Rights of the Child to reduce the number of working children and to ensure that children who worked did so in accordance with international standards and had access to education. Germany expressed concern that children were exposed to prostitution and noted the absence of institutions for the rehabilitation of victims and the lack of data. It made a recommendation. 58. Chile recognized existing constraints to the enjoyment of human rights created by climate change and measures taken to address those by the Government of Solomon Islands through the National Policy on Climate Change. Chile reiterated its support to initiatives aimed at addressing that issue. It acknowledged public efforts to promote and protect human rights and the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It noted the National Development Strategy, progress achieved in the area of gender equality and the initiative to consider the establishment of a national human rights institution. It made recommendations. 59. Argentina asked what results had been obtained through the implementation of the National Policy on Eliminating Violence against Women (2010) and the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy. It also inquired about measures adopted to eliminate all forms of discrimination against boys and girls, in particular those belonging to ethnic minorities, those living in remote islands, children born out of wedlock and disabled children. Argentina made recommendations. 9

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