A/HRC/16/16 initiative of the Chuuk Women’s Association, and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia fully supported the initiative. 12. In terms of legal legislation, the delegation stated that, at the state level, a bill was being considered by the Pohnpei Legislature, which was focused on the importance of the family in the local society. Pohnpei Legislative Bill L.B 53-08 would add a whole new chapter to the legal code, entitled “Family violence”. 13. In 2004, the Federated States of Micronesia had adopted its Strategic Development Plan to guide the nation for the next 20 years. A key matrix of the rolling development plan was on gender. Gender, as defined in the Plan, included women, young people, the elderly and the disabled. Issues such as the allocation of reserved seats for women were identified as strategic activities for the gender matrix. The call for the Government to put in place a “no-drop” policy on violence against women and children was also identified as a strategic activity. 14. As a nation, the Federated States of Micronesia recognized the rights of persons with disabilities and provided special services for disabled persons in the areas of education and medical care. Special programmes were available. Just this year, the Federated States of Micronesia had adopted a national policy on the disabled. Sanctioned by the National Congress, the policy set out clear directions on protecting the rights of the disabled. The delegation indicated that the Federated States of Micronesia intended to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 15. Young people were important in the society, and the Government had also adopted its policy on youth this year. The Government played an active role in raising awareness about important social issues and services related to young people. As a vulnerable small island developing State, the Federated States of Micronesia was concerned about the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people and the population as a whole. Therefore, some states had adopted appropriate laws and regulations relating to the rights of those infected with HIV or otherwise had developed AIDS. The efforts of the state of Pohnpei were worth acknowledging, with the adoption of a comprehensive statute on HIV/AIDS prevention in 2008. 16. In order to raise the awareness of young people, the Federated States of Micronesia had hosted the most recent Micronesian Youth Conference. Participants from throughout the region had participated, including young people from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the United States Territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 17. The Federated States of Micronesia valued the importance of education as essential to human dignity and fundamental rights. Children were a valuable resource, as in any other society. As such, the Federated States of Micronesia provided compulsory primary education, and high school education was free in all primary and public high schools. The Government subsidized private high schools throughout the country. The Federated States of Micronesia was approaching universal school participation at primary schools. The literacy rate was in excess of 90 per cent, with the literacy rate for females slightly higher than that for males. 18. For its part, and as nation, with the partnership of United Nations implementing agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Federated States of Micronesia was heavily engaged in campaigns to raise awareness about reproductive health and health problems facing adolescents. With UNFPA, it had established various reproductive health clinics at various high schools. It continued to appreciate the support of donor partners who contributed to these ongoing efforts. 5