A/HRC/18/5 9. Some examples of Palau’s commitment to human rights include: the preparation of the national report in close consultation with civil society, consultations with the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and the Asia Pacific Forum on the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution in compliance with Paris Principles, and public education and awareness-raising campaigns on human rights. 10. The President of the Republic had issued an executive order establishing a task force to investigate alleged human trafficking activities. Palau indicated that it had legislation addressing human trafficking but that challenges remained. In April 2011, the President of the Republic, while presenting his annual report to the Congress and the nation, reiterated Palau’s commitment to combating human trafficking. 11. Palau had managed to deal with cases of asylum-seekers. It mentioned the cases of 12 asylum-seekers who were accommodated in Palau and subsequently resettled in third countries. 12. Palau indicated that climate change was a priority human rights issue. The year 2010 was declared the year of “Green Revolution” by President Johnson Toribiong. Palau is part of Green Energy Micronesia, a regional initiative to convert 20 per cent of fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy. President Toribiong had also declared Palau as the first “shark sanctuary” of the world. This declaration was further strengthened to include all marine mammals. 13. Palau pledged to extend an open standing invitation to special procedures mandate holders. 14. Palau appealed to the international community to assist the country in striving to improve human rights. 15. Palau introduced its national report. It referred to the paragraphs of the latter which relate to Palau’s geographical situation, languages spoken, religions practised by the population, the system of government, the composition of the population, the percentage of population living under poverty line, the status of consultations for the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution and the rights enshrined in its Constitution. 16. Palau then referred to the paragraphs of its national report related to the following issues: human trafficking and people smuggling, statelessness, domestic violence, disabilities, children, education, youth, poverty, HIV/AIDS, women, foreign and local workers, food security, and culture. 17. Regarding each of the above-mentioned issues, Palau referred to the relevant paragraphs of its national report identifying laws adopted, policies being implemented, and existing challenges. 18. Palau mentioned the following legislation, initiatives and policies adopted and undertaken to address these human rights issues: • On domestic violence: the Palau Family Protection Bill pending adoption; joint efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice and community stakeholders to address domestic violence; and the establishment of the Victims of Crimes Assistance Office; • On disability: the draft national policy on disabled people; national laws which protect the needs of people with disabilities, initiatives taken to provide educational and vocational training, as well as health initiatives; • On children: several laws adopted to protect the rights of the child, and three governmental offices established to intervene in cases of child abuse and neglect; 4