A/HRC/18/18 Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. It was concerned that poverty, and certain traditional values and cultures, placed women and children in vulnerable positions. It noted a need to ensure that the local village system of court justice met international human rights standards. It made recommendations. 34. China noted that Papua New Guinea actively promoted women’s participation in the decision-making process and protected children’s rights. It commended the country’s efforts to improve medical and health services, to reduce infant and maternal mortality and to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. China called on the international community to provide Papua New Guinea with the necessary assistance. China made a recommendation. 35. Maldives stated that it was important that the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review understand that Papua New Guinea, like Maldives, faced enormous challenges because of its size, geography and capacity constraints. Noting that the projected gross domestic product of Papua New Guinea would nearly double by 2020, it stated that business projects should be people-centred, and executed with respect for human rights and caution because of their environmental risk. Such projects, in the opinion of Maldives, had the potential to further enhance the promotion of human rights. Maldives made recommendations. 36. Papua New Guinea highlighted that the country understood that the question of awareness was an issue that had to be addressed, and which had emerged in the regional consultations undertaken in the preparation of the national report. 37. Regarding questions raised concerning law enforcement agencies, it was explained that the issue had been raised many times and that a policy was currently being examined that would hold perpetrators responsible. It was added that those were discussions that needed to be undertaken. Moreover, a need for training and awareness programmes within the various law enforcement agencies existed. Papua New Guinea added that the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture had been instructive, and the recommendations made were being reviewed. 38. In response to comments and recommendations made during the interactive dialogue, with respect to questions raised regarding the death penalty, it was pointed out that the death penalty was currently a part of the country’s laws and that only at such a time when Parliament repealed or amended the law would that law cease to be applicable. Courts had invoked the death penalty in some cases. However, in all of those cases, the penalty had been commuted to a life sentence through an appeal to the Supreme Court. It was explained that it would, therefore, be slightly erroneous to state that a moratorium existed, if such a statement was taken to imply that the death penalty had not been invoked. Nevertheless, there had been much debate on the issue and that was a discussion that had to be undertaken within the communities. 39. As for birth registration, it was clarified that the Department of Community Development had undertaken a role in addressing the issue. In that regard, it was stated that once again there was a need for greater awareness on the part of parents and communities to take the necessary steps to register births. 40. Regarding domestic violence, Papua New Guinea stated that the issue had been addressed, and underscored that such acts were criminal offences. It further stated that domestic violence was another matter that required the awareness of law enforcement agencies to ensure that those adequately treated the issue as a crime. 41. Papua New Guinea added that the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was being seriously considered and that consultations had already taken place. 7