A/HRC/16/16 plans to improve the protection of women and children against trafficking and sex tourism. Germany made a recommendation. 50. Latvia noted that, although no requests to visit the country had been made by special procedures mandate holders, the Federated States of Micronesia had not extended a standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council. Latvia made a recommendation. 51. Thailand stated that, in the light of the current review of the Human Rights Council, the Federated States of Micronesia represented another opportunity for the Council to seriously reflect on the promotion of capacity-building, technical cooperation and assistance as a way to enhance the engagement of all States in the process of the universal periodic review. Thailand, for its part, stood ready to explore possibility of cooperating with Micronesia in areas of mutual interest. Thailand made recommendations. 52. Ecuador noted the progress made by the Federated States of Micronesia in the areas of education and health care. Ecuador made recommendations. 53. As a small island developing State, the country stated that it faced constraints and difficulties, not only in terms of putting the appropriate legislation in place, but also in gathering, processing, evaluating and analysing data. With respect to international assistance, it acknowledged the contributions of those partners who had made efforts to assist. It would continue to seek the assistance of regional and international organizations, including the United Nations Joint Presence Office, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In that regard, the Federated States of Micronesia was very fortunate to see the establishment of the United Nations Joint Presence Office, led by the United Nations Population Fund and assisted by UNDP and UNICEF. It saw this development as a positive way forward. 54. Regarding the issue of an independent national human rights institution, the Federated States of Micronesia did not have such an institution in place; however, it was appreciative of the universal periodic review process, because the process had allowed it to examine its human rights situation. One of the recommendations that it would look at was the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution, although it would be mindful of its limited capacity to do so. 55. With respect to the Country Programme Action Plan with United Nations agencies and the limited participation of women and minority groups, the Federated States of Micronesia pointed out that the Plan had three major strategic outcomes: (a) poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals; (b) good governance and human rights; and (c) environment and sustainable development. In the Plan, the Federated States of Micronesia identified these core issues as priorities in moving forward with the relevant United Nations implementing agencies. They constituted core human rights issues. 56. The delegation further stated that the strategic development plan of the Federated States of Micronesia identified gender as one of priorities. In the matrix for the plan, the issue of allocating reserved seats for women had been identified. There was a bill pending before Congress that examined the possibility of allocating reserved seats for women in the National Congress. This had not yet materialized, but the Federated States of Micronesia saw it as a significant temporary special measure to address the issue of women in decisionmaking positions in modern society. 57. Regarding the issuance of legislation concerning gender-based violence, the Federated States of Micronesia acknowledged its shortcomings as a small developing island State and indicated that it would continue to seek assistance from donor partners to address such violence. 11