A/HRC/32/11
22.
Palau announced that the Reporting Committee, with the support of the working
group, had just submitted its combined second and third report on the implementation of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
23.
The delegation stated that Palau, a peaceful and stable island nation, faced many
challenges, prominent among which was climate change, which affected people’s
livelihood, access to food, water and property. International cooperation and support is
critical to addressing and ensuring the basic human rights of the people. Palau was also
seeking the support of the international community for tackling other human rights
priorities, including human trafficking, migrant workers, gender-based violence and
vulnerable groups. The Government’s intention to establish a national human rights
institution required specialized resources and Palau would be seeking the assistance from
its partners to realize this.
24.
Palau has its own wealth of experience and ideas, particularly in the area of
preserving the oceans and the marine environment. The President of Palau had successfully
secured a protection measure for the oceans through the Marine Sanctuary Act, which is
intended to ensure food security for future generations of children. Palau called on the
international community to commit to promoting these environments in the Sustainable
Development Goals. Like other small island developing States, it depends on those
resources and their protection is inextricably linked to its ability to protect and promote
human rights. Palau emphasized the importance of development financing aligned with the
Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 5 on gender equality and the goals relating
to marginalized groups and human rights. The Human Rights Council has a real
opportunity to strengthen its monitoring of the human rights captured in the Sustainable
Development Goals through the universal periodic review process. This is the proposal that
Palau submits to the Council at this review for further consideration.
25.
The delegation stated that Palau continued to face many challenges and limitations
in its efforts to fulfil its human rights obligations at the national, regional and international
levels. Due to limited capacity, human resources and expertise, Palau continues to seek
external technical and funding assistance. As it is committed to fulfilling its human rights
obligations, Palau also sought assistance from the members of the Human Rights Council.
26.
Palau called on the Council to assume decisive leadership with regard to the issue of
climate change and human rights.
27.
Palau supported the universal periodic review process as it provided the opportunity
to engage constructively on issues that affected its people. Palau placed a lot of value in this
process as demonstrated in its national report. The delegation underscored that Palau had
taken great strides to better protect, promote and fulfil its human rights obligations. It
assured the Council that Palau would continue to work towards the realization of the human
rights of its people.
B.
Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
28.
During the interactive dialogue, 46 delegations made statements. Recommendations
made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report.
29.
Montenegro recognized Palau’s efforts to improve its institutional and legislative
human rights framework. However, it was concerned about the insufficient capacities for
the promotion and protection of human rights. Montenegro welcomed the fact that Palau
had signed all the core human rights instruments since the first cycle of the review.
However, it is only party to two treaties. Montenegro encouraged Palau to seek technical
assistance from OHCHR to strengthen its capacities, implement the core human rights
instruments and ratify the conventions to which it was a signatory.
6
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