A/HRC/16/16 31. The United States of America welcomed Micronesia’s achievements in environmental security, as evidenced by the establishment of the national climate change policy, as a further opportunity to strengthen livelihoods, food security and economic development. The United States was aware of the need to further develop nondiscrimination laws regarding women and children, and laws against domestic violence and trafficking in persons. It remained concerned that women and girls continued to face unequal access to, inter alia, health care, educational and vocational training, and employment; it also expressed concern about forced marriage and inadequate protection from gender-based violence. It noted that Micronesia remained without a law on trafficking in persons and had yet to accede to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It asked about plans to adopt legislation banning trafficking in persons and to accede to and ratify the Protocol. The United States made recommendations. 32. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland considered it essential that traditional beliefs and practices were not allowed to undermine constitutional and legal guarantees relating to gender equality and the rights of women and children. It welcomed the expressed willingness of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia to move forward with the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, stating that it would like to see that achieved within a set time frame. It acknowledged the challenges in addressing the growing impact of climate change and encouraged Micronesia to draw on available international technical assistance and expertise in that area. It asked about Government plans to continue to involve civil society in the process of following up on this review, and requested further information about plans to promote and support gender equality. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 33. Turkey appreciated the independence of the judicial system in the Federated States of Micronesia, supported the efforts to provide health-care services and education to all citizens, and welcomed the fact that the country guaranteed free primary school for all. Turkey also expressed appreciation for Micronesia’s awareness about environmental protection and welcomed the measures taken by the Government to that end. Turkey lauded Micronesia’s accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, noting that, since Micronesia’s accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2004, noticeable progress had been achieved. Turkey made a recommendation. 34. Noting that the Federated States of Micronesia was a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, France remained concerned at the persistence of domestic violence against women, as no state had criminalized marital violence. France stated that violence against children continued to be reported and that the Committee on the Rights of the Child had expressed its concerns about, inter alia, the absence of measures to protect children from violent and pornographic content broadcast by some media and existing legislative and financial gaps to combat sexual violence against children. France asked whether the Federated States of Micronesia planned to reinforce the protection of children in its domestic legislation. France made recommendations. 35. New Zealand recognized the efforts of the Federated States of Micronesia in the area of human rights, especially with regard to education. It expressed the view that the rights of women and girls were not fully realized in the country and noted the acknowledgement in the national report of the importance of advocacy campaigns to raise the level of awareness regarding women’s rights. New Zealand made recommendations. 36. The delegation thanked Member States for their constructive review and observations, and stated that it was pleased at their very thorough knowledge of the human 8