A/HRC/31/10 employer to dismiss or institute disciplinary action against an employee on the basis of sexual orientation. 19. In the national report it was emphasized that all Saint Lucians, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, were afforded full protection under the Constitution, as it provided judicial redress to any individual alleging that his or her fundamental rights had been or were likely to be contravened. 20. Additionally, the Government was establishing a police unit to handle cases of sexual violence. The unit would be headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police and handle all matters pertaining to sexual violence, including cases of abuse against vulnerable groups such as women and children. 21. As indicated in the national report, Saint Lucia had a national helpline that did not deal only with potential cases of suicide but also with other social and emotional issues. The helpline made it possible for victims of sexual abuse to speak freely and seek the requisite assistance. 22. During the preparation of the national report, the Government consulted a wide cross-section of civil society, which allowed it to gauge the opinion of its people on myriad areas concerning human rights. 23. The Government was able to ascertain how policy decisions such as the provision of grants of 500 East Caribbean dollars to students entering secondary school had benefited parents and students alike, how the school mentoring programme had corrected the course of at-risk youths and how women who could not ordinarily afford obstetric and maternal services had been able to meet their health-care needs. 24. Furthermore, following the Government’s requests for input from across civil society, contributions were received from non-profit organizations such as Rise Saint Lucia Inc. and United and Strong, which advocated the rights of children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, respectively. 25. Saint Lucia had made solid progress in the area of health care. The Government sought to ensure that all persons, regardless of their socioeconomic standing, had access to adequate, efficient and quality care. Considerable resources had been dedicated to improving health services, facilities and available medical treatment, with special emphasis placed on women’s health and HIV/AIDS. 26. The Constitution reflected the Government’s intolerance for torture and the 2008 Criminal Code specifically prohibited the use of excessive force by any member of society against another. Under the Integrity in Public Life Act of 2000, a commission was created and tasked with receiving and investigating complaints against public officials. 27. Furthermore, the provisions of the Criminal Code denouncing the use of torture, physical abuse and excessive force applied as much to the police as it did to any ordinary citizen. In line with those provisions, a correctional officer using any form of torture on an inmate could serve up to seven years in prison. 28. Amendments made to the Police Complaints Act of 2013 provided the Minister of Home Affairs and National Security with the power to launch an investigation into any alleged incidence of abuse of force by any member of the police against any member of the public. The Act also introduced a more thorough and transparent method of investigating alleged grievances brought forward by members of the public against the police. A twotiered approach to handling complaints was established whereby complaints had to first filter through the Police Complaints Unit and then to the Police Complaints Commission, which is wholly independent from the police. 5