A/HRC33/15 that would facilitate the early disclosure and disposal of preliminary issues, impose stricter time frames and impose a positive obligation on all parties, including judicial officers, to assist in processing cases in accordance with the overriding objective of dealing with cases justly and expeditiously. 15. In order to reduce poverty, especially that affecting women, the Office of the Prime Minister had, together with the Minister of State for gender affairs, provided financial assistance for more than a decade, through the “Women in harmony” programme, to female heads of households who were single parents with few or no skills and either a low or no income. 16. Another initiative geared towards supporting women with specific needs was the “Non-traditional skills training programme for women”. It was designed to provide specialized, technical/vocational education and training to low-income women. The programme was aimed at increasing economic productivity among unskilled, unemployed women between the ages of 18-50 years. Since 2001, over 3,000 women had been trained under the programme. 17. Trinidad and Tobago had also paid attention to the needs of persons with disabilities. A disability affairs unit within the Ministry Social Development and Family Services and a national coordinating committee on disability had been established. Additionally, the Government was currently considering a draft national policy on persons with disabilities and a draft disabilities bill. Broad programmes had also been developed to ensure the safety and independence of the differently-abled. The Government provided financial assistance to purchase aids and assistance devices, and the Public Transport Service Corporation provided a dial-a-ride service to transport differently-abled persons to work, school, Government offices and the supermarket. 18. Efforts had been made by the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development to promote and encourage the integration of persons with disabilities into the labour market in both the public and private sectors. 19. The efforts undertaken by Trinidad and Tobago to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities had been strengthened by the ratification in 2015 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. An interministerial committee had been established to implement the articles of the Convention. 20. In July 2015, the National Enrichment Centre for Persons with Disabilities formerly known as the National Development Centre for Persons with Disabilities had been commissioned to enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The Centre was to be responsible for providing rehabilitation services, opportunities for vocational training and employment, independent life skills programmes, activities focusing on social interaction and therapeutic services for persons with disabilities. 21. The right of children with disabilities to access education had been recognized and was supported by the Special Education Unit of the Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education. 22. Trinidad and Tobago had received various recommendations during its initial periodic review concerning the full implementation of the Children’s Authority and the proclamation of the Children Act, 2012. On 18 May 2015, the Children Act, 2012, had been proclaimed, resulting in the immediate operationalization of the Children’s Authority. The Children Act, 2012, along with other legislation and the Children’s Authority, represented an overhaul of the former child protection system. It had repealed and replaced the previous Children Act, adopted in 1925. The new legislation was wide-ranging in its scope and dealt with issues including sexual conduct against children, cruelty, juvenile justice, corporal punishment, compulsory school age, the use of evidence and procedures in criminal 5