A/HRC/16/16 19. Like many other Pacific island countries, the Federated States of Micronesia was a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. While the country was a signatory to the Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the delegation was pleased to report that resolutions to accede to the two Protocols were pending before its National Congress. The Federated States of Micronesia was endeavouring to consider the core international conventions on human rights for possible ratification and accession. The delegation, however, added that the implementation of treaties was never an easy task for a small island developing State with limited financial resources and capacity constraints, and acknowledged its shortcomings in meeting reporting requirements, gathering and analysing data and putting in place needed legislation. The delegation stated that the Federated States of Micronesia would seek the support of development partners for those important undertakings. 20. The establishment of the United Nations Joint Presence Office had proved beneficial for the Federated States of Micronesia, and it was seeing many activities taking place to address various social issues at different levels, including gender, good governance and violence against children and women, to name but a few. 21. Central to its survival as a small island developing State were its fragile ecosystem and environment. The people of Micronesia depended heavily on marine resources and limited land resources for survival. Unfortunately, the onslaught of the adverse impacts of climate change, with sea-level rise and global warming, continued to threaten its existence and affected the right to life, food, water, property, a quality standard of living and selfdetermination. It affected the delivery of social services, as they were often redirected to efforts to address the impacts of climate change. The Federated States of Micronesia was strongly of the view that the inadequacy of mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gases, together with insufficient funding for adaptation to address the adverse impact of climate change, constituted violations of its right to life and liberty, and its right to be free from fear and want. 22. The Federated States of Micronesia concluded that it would continue to affirm the right of its people to continue to live and exist in the face of climate change and global warming. The Federated States of Micronesia subscribed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, based on the fundamental principles that all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights. The Micronesians were a simple and peaceful people. Therefore, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia would continue to ensure that its people enjoyed their rights, freedom and liberty. As a sovereign nation and through its Constitution, it affirmed its role as a guardian of its islands. The Federated States of Micronesia would always endeavour to do what was right, necessary and appropriate in order to promote and safeguard the dignity and human rights of its people. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. Algeria was aware of the seriousness of the environmental problems linked to the extreme vulnerability of the Federated States of Micronesia to climate change, problems that had had a negative effect on the Government’s efforts to achieve a standard of living sufficient for all of the population. Algeria congratulated Micronesia on the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Noting concerns regarding the possibility of a conflict between customary law and written law, Algeria asked for an indication of the place of customary law in the national justice system. Algeria made recommendations. 24. Cuba stated that the Federated States of Micronesia was another example of the process of colonization and neo-colonization developed by the great Powers. It was only in 6