A/HRC/12/50 political life. It also noted efforts to improve the health system, combat disease and reduce child mortality, calling on relevant United Nations actors to provide the necessary technical assistance in this regard. Acknowledging the Government’s readiness to develop a policy of free education, it encouraged efforts to guarantee free and compulsory primary education by enhancing implementation of the national plan of action for education for all. Algeria would welcome a representation of the Pacific Islands Forum in Geneva, to be able to engage in dialogue with the Forum. 584. India welcomed Vanuatu’s constructive engagement with the universal periodic review despite the lack of a representation in Geneva, regarding this as symbolic of Vanuatu’s commitment to human rights. It noted with appreciation Vanuatu’s recent ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the enactment of the Family Protection Act, which could contribute to protecting and promoting women’s rights. It acknowledged the challenges Vanuatu faced as a small-island developing State and a least developed country. 585. Australia recognized Vanuatu’s challenges as a small State and acknowledged the extensive consultations with Government departments and non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the report. Australia commended Vanuatu’s commitment to improving conditions in prisons and detention centres, particularly by separating minors and adults. Recognizing Vanuatu’s commitment to human rights principles, including women’s rights, Australia welcomed the Family Protection Act and encouraged practical steps to ensure its timely implementation. 586. The United States of America commended Vanuatu’s engagement with the universal periodic review despite its constraints. It noted that accountability and transparency in Vanuatu’s public sector remained an area of concern. While appreciating efforts by the offices of the Ombudsman and the Auditor General to investigate corruption in the public sector, it asked for more resources to be provided to them to allow for vigorous investigation. It commended the renovation of detention centres to meet international standards and the passage of the Family Protection Act to prevent and punish abuses against women. 587. New Zealand recognized that participation in the review process was a major undertaking for small-island States in the Pacific region and welcomed Vanuatu’s willingness to share its experience with other Pacific countries at a seminar on the universal periodic review held in early 2009. It welcomed Vanuatu’s acceptance of over 90 per cent of the recommendations and commended its justice sector strategy 2009–2014, which addressed human rights protection, including for persons with disabilities. It looked forward to working with Vanuatu on the implementation of the recommendations. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 588. Amnesty International welcomed Vanuatu’s progress in ensuring human rights, particularly the enactment of the Family Protection Act, and urged that the Act be implemented through training programmes for stakeholders and allocation of adequate resources. It also welcomed the steps taken to consolidate various family laws into a single one, urging that this review take place through adequate public consultation, and that the necessary assistance be provided by the international community. Welcoming the fact that Vanuatu was at the preliminary stages of ratifying the Convention against Torture, it encouraged Vanuatu to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This would send a strong signal of commitment to addressing poverty-related issues. It urged the international community to assist Vanuatu in addressing poverty, lack of access to health services, clean water and adequate housing. 151