A/HRC/18/5 legislation. Australia welcomed recent training and the translation of CEDAW into the national language so that all Palauans can participate in the discussions on the ratification to the Convention. It remained concerned at continuing reports of violence against women and urged Palau to put in place legislation to protect women’s rights and address domestic violence. Australia also noted the challenges faced by Palau in attaining development goals and was pleased to be working with Palau on inclusive approaches to these challenges. Australia made recommendations. 36. Argentina commended Palau’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Argentina made recommendations. 37. Norway commended Palau for its commitment to international human rights and its related achievements. Norway noted the challenges facing Palau on the issue of trafficking. Norway also commended Palau for its support of the recent joint statement delivered in the Human Rights Council on ending acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, it noted that Palau’s Penal Code continued to criminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex and that Palau’s legislation discriminated against women in the field of inheritance and did not criminalize rape within marriage. Norway made recommendations. 38. Palau responded to the questions raised during the interactive dialogue. On the progress in the establishment of a national human rights institution, Palau indicated that it intended to hold wide national consultations at domestic level; on the translation of international human rights instruments into local languages, Palau explained that CEDAW had been translated into Palauan. Regarding the ratification of CEDAW, there were ongoing consultation processes. As for the ratification of other international instruments, Palau requested international assistance for meeting its international commitments. 39. Spain encouraged Palau to continue its efforts to create a national human rights institution and welcomed the holding of consultations in that regard. Spain acknowledged Palau’s measures on combating sexual, gender and domestic violence as well as the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Spain made recommendations. 40. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland asked about the Government’s plans to involve civil society in the follow-up process to the Universal Periodic Review. It welcomed Palau’s acknowledgement of the problem of human trafficking and of efforts to tackle it. The United Kingdom hoped that Palau would review policies on foreign nationals to provide them with increased protection. It referred to the pending Family Protection Bill and expressed interest in receiving further information on the timetable for its implementation and regular updates on progress made. The United Kingdom acknowledged that Palau was one of world’s smallest countries and that the scarcity of resources, including skilled human resources, presented clear challenges in terms of building institutional and legal capacity for human rights. The United Kingdom made recommendations. 41. Brazil commended Palau for holding free and democratic elections, having an independent and functioning judicial system, and for voting in favour of the adoption of General Assembly resolution 62/149 on a moratorium on the death penalty. Brazil noted the National Plan of Action for Children and welcomed the announcement of the adoption of a domestic Violence Bill. Brazil was concerned about the corporal punishment reports; the situation of children living and working in the streets; the low legal age for criminal responsibility and the situation of migrant workers. Brazil made recommendations. 42. Morocco acknowledged Palau’s progress on the implementation of the MDGs, the accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the efforts made to guarantee a 8

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