A/HRC/10/84 Page 9 prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender. Germany asked about people on the outer islands and a trust fund set up to strengthen their situation. It asked for Tuvalu to elaborate on the measures taken in this regard, especially to ensure improved access for people living in those regions to the administration and judicial system. 33. Australia recognized the challenges that Tuvalu faces, including in terms of having the necessary resources to implement national human rights programmes, and considered it particularly commendable the manner in which Tuvalu adheres to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Australia noted that the Tuvalu National Council of Women is increasingly concerned by the slow progress made by the Government towards ratification of human rights treaties and their supporting Optional Protocols. In this regard, Australia recommended in particular that Tuvalu sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It welcomed advice from the delegation regarding the grass-roots training on human rights and gender being carried out by the Tuvalu legal rights training officer. It noted reports, however, that some laws indirectly allow for lawful discrimination on the grounds of sex or gender. Australia recommended that Tuvalu implement effective means to ensure greater public awareness of the issues of domestic violence and gender discrimination and encourage greater involvement of Government agencies and civil society in efforts to address these issues. 34. Responding to issues raised, Tuvalu thanked delegations for their words of understanding and appreciated the questions and recommendations. Regarding the issue of discrimination against women, the Head of Delegation stated that the Government committed itself to collaborating with the stakeholders with a view to make appropriate amendments to the Constitution and noted that work is in progress. 35. The Attorney-General of Tuvalu provided further clarification related to the treatment of women and possible discrimination under the law. She noted that issues were raised as regards women’s rights and their marginalization and discrimination in relation to adoption, marriage, custody and land issues. She stated that the laws stem from the Constitution, which has no provision for the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex, and stressed that these laws were currently under review. 36. The Head of Delegation reiterated the State’s full commitment to ratifying the main human rights treaties and stated that it would do so and implement them once resources are available. 37. With reference to the right to information and the provision of services to people on the outer islands and the role of the Tuvalu Trust Fund in that regard, the Head of Delegation affirmed that the Government needs to serve the interests of those living on the outer islands. The Fund was established with the cooperation of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea and, to some extent, Tuvalu itself. The Fund was providing the much needed budgetary support to ensure the continuation of vital services for the people on the outer islands. He explained that a branch of the Fund was set up to serve the immediate needs of the outer islands and that funds were managed prudently and properly. 38. Concerning discrimination on the basis of religion, the Head of Delegation confirmed that Tuvalu fully accepted and recognized the rights of different denominations to worship and practice their religions. He noted the need to harmonize religions with traditional practices to sustain and maintain order in the islands, and that the Government recognized the need to ensure