A/HRC/10/73 Page 5 14. Although there is no separate legislation protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and those of persons based on sexual orientation from discrimination, the Minister drew attention to section 11 of the Constitution relating to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, which generally reflects the principle that all men and women shall enjoy equal civil and political rights. It should also be noted that Barbados is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and has recently established a national disabilities unit, whose mandate is to promote equal opportunities in all areas for people with disabilities. Barbados also has a number of programmes regarding the fuller integration and participation of persons with disabilities into the community. The Minister stated that, following the general election in January 2008, the Prime Minister invited a visually-impaired person to serve as a senator in the Upper House in Barbados. 15. It was noted that there had been advance questions relating to the physical and psychological abuse of children, but he stressed that it was not the view of the Government that its legislation on corporal punishment provides for a high degree of punishment of children at home and at school. National laws criminalize the abuse of children; in the event that corporal punishment is administered, it is done so in compliance with the Code of Discipline promulgated under the Education Act. The Code of Discipline, produced by the Ministry of Education in 2004, identifies the due process to be followed in the event that disciplinary action is to be considered, the types and levels of violations and the disciplinary options that might apply. There are a number of ongoing activities and initiatives that the Government has developed to address the needs of children, such as the counselling efforts of the Child Care Board, the programmes under PAREDOS (Parent Education for Development in Barbados) and the placement of guidance counsellors in all schools. 16. With regard to the rights of the child, and in particular on what policies and practices the Government has in place to ensure that abused children are not placed in harmful circumstances, the Minister stressed that the Government regards all kinds of abuse against children as an extremely serious matter. Certain State agencies are charged with the responsibility of providing any abused child, and, in some cases other members of the family, with an alternative home setting. Counselling is also provided to the child, the perpetrator and other family members at appropriate intervention points. Such matters are also referred to the police for investigation and necessary action. Some Government agencies also engage in public education campaigns to raise social awareness of the problem by recognizing the signs of abuse. It was noted that Barbados has been working extensively with UNICEF in this area. 17. With regard to issuing a standing invitation to special procedures, although Barbados recognizes the important role they play in ensuring that human rights obligations under the human rights architecture are respected, and although Barbados is not averse to receiving special procedures, the Government was not in a position to extend a standing invitation at this time owing to capacity constraints that may be involved in this process. 18. With regard to gender and women’s rights, although no specific national plan has been finalized on women’s rights, the Bureau of Gender Affairs is currently working on a national gender policy that is expected to encompass all matters related to discrimination against women. Work is continuing on the gender mainstreaming process and efforts to enhance the capacity of the Bureau of Gender Affairs are ongoing. A “stigma and discrimination committee” has been established in the Ministry of Labour and the Domestic Violence Data Protocol financed by the United Nations Fund for Women has been implemented by the Bureau of Gender Affairs on a pilot basis to look at cases of violence in society. Agencies involved are the Police, Polyclinics