A/HRC/38/28 girls. The UNFPA Global Programme to Prevent Son Preference and the Gender-Biased Sex Selection is aimed at strengthening evidence-based national policies and programmes to tackle son preference, low status of girls in society, and gender inequalities resulting in gender-biased sex selection, in countries in Asia and the Caucasus identified as having a prevalence of such practices. UNFPA bases its implementation on a comprehensive multisectoral and multi-stakeholder approach. In Armenia, for example, it supported the drafting of a national action plan for 2018–2022 and the development of methodological guidelines for data collection, data and trends analysis, together with relevant national research institutes; training programmes for health professionals; capacity-building of local NGOs to design programmes to curb gender-biased sex selection and to promote gender equality; and public education programmes. 43. The United Nations in Costa Rica organized the first female Central American hackathon, aimed at promoting women’s empowerment in the realization of the 2030 Agenda and increasing Central American women’s participation in fostering solutions and decision-making processes by developing capacity and leadership conditions for young women in the technology sector. The hackathon was designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, academia, civil society, the private sector and women, and brought together a diversity of stakeholders. It was focused on Goal 11 and Goal 13, to generate innovative solutions to address challenges related to urban sustainability, taking into account women’s needs and demands. One hundred and eighty young women from Costa Rica and the region took part, 60 per cent of whom were from rural areas, and were offered follow-up alternatives, such as technical advice to finalize their prototype, continued technical training in subjects related to innovation and technology, and opportunities for professional training for careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector. 2. Children 44. Birth registration is a first step towards safeguarding individual rights and providing every person with access to justice and social services. Unregistered children face significant challenges with respect to accessing education and health services. Support provided by the United Nations system to States in this respect contributes to the implementation of Goal 16 but also Goal 4. 45. In Kosovo** in 2017, UNHCR and UNICEF designed a joint strategy in support of the Coalition on Every Child’s Right to Nationality, to advocate for and support the authorities in three areas, namely enforcement of the current legal system; the creation of a new mechanism for systematic solutions for unregistered children and adults; and direct legal support for children affected, from all communities, especially Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children. As a result, around 300 children have now had their birth registered, and consequently have access to all associated social rights. Birth registration is a precondition for social inclusion and access to rights for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. As a result of the continuous advocacy, the authorities in Kosovo have initiated work on creating a mechanism for systematic solutions, which will be at the core of the national action plan to identify and reduce the number of unregistered persons that is to be endorsed in 2018. In Kazakhstan, UNHCR and UNICEF are aiming to promote revision of the national legislation related to birth registration to bring it into compliance with international standards and ensure that all children are registered at birth regardless of the legal status of their parents. 3. Persons with albinism 46. Since the end of 2014, an increase in attacks, killings and abductions has been reported in Malawi, targeted at persons with albinism. The visit in 2016 of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism brought about heightened attention to the human rights situation faced by persons with albinism and gave ** References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 11