A/HRC/27/11 housing. Citizens and residents alike continued to enjoy the generous subsidies granted by the Government for several essential commodities such as fuel, gas, water, rice and sugar. 8. Education remained one of the top priorities, accounting for nearly 13 per cent of the national budget. The provision of free, quality education from early childhood to tertiarylevel, equally accessible to both boys and girls, was further enhanced. Scholarships to study in the country and abroad were granted to eligible students. Brunei Darussalam had attained one of the highest literacy rates in the region. Technical and vocational qualification opportunities were provided for its people to acquire the necessary skills to increase their competitiveness and improve their self-development. Its efforts were in line with the Education for All goals of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the country ranked 34 out of 127 countries in the organization’s most recent development index. Brunei Darussalam had also worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UNESCO to complement its legislation on the nine-year compulsory education currently in place through enhancing the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme. 9. The delegation highlighted that as Brunei Darussalam was a small nation, the health of its people was vital to its development. His Majesty’s Government therefore placed great importance on the provision of a comprehensive health care system. Free medical health care was provided for citizens. The delegation was proud that Brunei Darussalam had achieved many of the targets set by the World Health Organization. 10. The Government had adopted an environmental policy direction and strategies in implementing its National Development Plan for a healthy environment. The delegation was pleased that one of the country’s most valuable assets was its clean air. Brunei Darussalam was home to well-preserved, pristine rainforests with a rich biodiversity, its national pride for future generations. Together with the international community, it shared the responsibility to save the Earth from global warming. It also cooperated with Malaysia and Indonesia in the Heart of Borneo project, whereby about 58 per cent of the island’s land mass has been protected in an effort to preserving the planet. 11. The delegation stated that His Majesty’s strong commitment to his people was apparent in good times and in times of need. His Majesty’s continuous concern for the wellbeing of his people was demonstrated during the flash floods in some parts of the country, in early 2014, when His Majesty personally visited the affected areas to ensure that the authorities had responded immediately and efficiently to secure the safety of those concerned. Also, a considerable amount of resources had been allocated to relief and repair efforts and a budget of about US$55 million had been earmarked for flood mitigation measures. 12. Those were just some of the efforts Brunei Darussalam had made in promoting and protecting the bigger aspects of human rights, in line with the Millennium Development Goals. It had achieved almost all of the targets set, especially in eradicating extreme poverty. The country ranked 30 out of 187 countries in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2013. It would continue to strive towards accelerating development and looked forward to supporting the post-2015 development agenda. 13. The delegation highlighted the efforts of His Majesty’s Government in protecting vulnerable groups in the country. A number of measures had been put in place, such as introducing new legislation, amending existing ones and setting up special committees to further ensure their rights, included the adoption of the Children and Young Persons Act, which led to the establishment in 2010 of a juvenile justice system aimed at ensuring appropriate judicial procedures for young offenders. 4