A/HRC/31/16 59. Paraguay welcomed the efforts and advances achieved with the programme for the reduction of poverty and the success obtained in meeting the Millennium Development Goals regarding health. It appreciated the adoption of the law on equal pay among men and women. It also highlighted the creation of a national registry system that permits the registry of births and deaths. It noted the change in the Law on Criminal Responsibility, which increases the minimum age from 8 to 12 years. 60. The Philippines commended Saint Kitts and Nevis for addressing its debt situation and trusted that it would continue to respect the rights of its people in the implementation of its fiscal reforms. It encouraged Saint Kitts and Nevis to consider the need for inclusive consultations, especially with those living in extreme poverty, in line with the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights. The Philippines recognized the steps that had been taken to improve education and health, establish legal mechanisms for addressing domestic violence and enhance youth awareness on human rights issues. Finally, the Philippines regretted that some of the recommendations accepted during the first cycle had yet to be implemented, including ratification of core human rights instruments. 61. Portugal welcomed the current debate on the amendment of the Domestic Violence Bill 2014, in line with the recommendations accepted during the first cycle of the universal periodic review, as a means to tackle domestic violence, which remains a serious and pervasive problem in the country. 62. Rwanda commended Saint Kitts and Nevis for remaining steadfast in its commitment to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens, in a period of economic and financial slowdown. It noted with appreciation that, under the National Social Protection Strategy and Plan of Action, initiatives to alleviate poverty had been structured to ensure that public resources were directed in order to more efficiently and effectively incorporate the poor into the mainstream of economic development. 63. Saint Lucia commended Saint Kitts and Nevis for its commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action in addition to all efforts made in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, such as the creation of a Special Victims Unit within the police force to deal with issues of domestic violence and abuse. Saint Lucia acknowledged efforts to incorporate into domestic legislation the Convention on the Rights of the Child, such as the National Child Protection Protocol and Plan of Action and the reestablishment of the Probation and Child Welfare Board. Saint Lucia noted that, despite efforts by the Government, the issue of domestic and sexual violence against women and children remained in the society. 64. Sierra Leone commended Saint Kitts and Nevis for having reached many of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly high life expectancy and low maternal and infant mortality rates. Sierra Leone applauded the efforts that were being made in the education sector, especially on the empowerment of young boys. Sierra Leone was concerned that Saint Kitts and Nevis had failed to implement the recommendations it had accepted in the first cycle of the universal periodic review relating to ratification of the core human rights treaties, and finally encouraged Saint Kitts and Nevis to develop national legal frameworks to provide refugees with international protection and to speedily enact the Domestic Violence Bill. 65. Slovenia noted a number of positive developments since the first review of Saint Kitts and Nevis, such as the adoption of various policies and plans to further improve the quality of education and its accessibility, such as the White Paper on Education Development and Policy 2009-2019. Slovenia encouraged the Government to take additional measures to further promote comprehensive and inclusive education and awareness-raising on health training. 10