A/HRC/32/11 63. The Congo noted as positive Palau’s cooperation with the human rights mechanisms and the adoption of laws to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It appreciated the efforts taken to ratify the human rights instruments and to award equal education grants for girls and boys at the superior educational level, which contributed to increasing the number of women in highlevel posts in the public and private sectors. It regretted, however, that a national human rights institution had not been yet established and that there was insufficient human rights training for the police and the judiciary. 64. Costa Rica noted that Palau had signed the core human rights instruments and it urged Palau to ratify those instruments. It welcomed the Family Protection Act to prevent domestic violence and acknowledged Palau’s efforts to create an independent national human rights institution and to conduct training and awareness-raising in the areas of domestic violence, migrant workers’ rights and climate change. It considered it pertinent that Palau should strengthen and promote education and training on human rights, particularly for the police and law enforcement personnel. 65. Cuba highlighted the signature of eight human rights instruments, which demonstrated Palau’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. It noted the laws adopted to combat domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons and on the establishment of a registry on sex offenders, the minimum wage and the criminalization of marital rape. Cuba noted the challenges in implementing human rights in Palau given its limited resources and it called on the international community to support Palau’s efforts to improve the living conditions of its population. 66. Cyprus commended the measures taken by the Government to fulfil its international human rights obligations and welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013. 67. Denmark was pleased to note that, following its first universal periodic review, Palau signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment, in 2011. It highlighted that, as the implementation of the Convention against Torture Initiative required government-to-government exchange and cooperation, it stood ready to explore new ways of assisting the Government of Palau to advance in this regard if deemed helpful. 68. The delegation was humbled by the support given by the members of the Human Rights Council and the comments regarding the Family Protection Act. The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, together with the Bureau of Aging and Gender, the judiciary, the Ministry of Health, the police department and the Attorney General, had signed a memorandum of understanding on raising awareness about domestic violence and working with schools, parent networks and traditional and non-traditional organizations on this issue. 69. As a small island State, Palau faced many challenges like domestic violence but it has made advances in the protection of women, children and in particular, the family. The Family Protection Act is aimed at providing protection for the whole family. The delegation recognized that the importance of the support provided by Australia, as a country in the Pacific region, particularly with regard to a gender policy. The delegation stated that the gender policy was in its final stages and thanked the various regional offices and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for their support. 70. The delegation welcomed the support from Denmark and Cuba’s recognition of its needs and stated that the Government would continue to seek assistance for the process to ratify the core treaties. The Government was working with regard to the national human rights institution and appreciated all the comments and support. The delegation stated that 11