A/HRC/32/11 38. The Russian Federation noted the progress made by Palau since its first review. However, it also noted with regret that exhaustive legislative measures had not been adopted to ensure the protection of children’s rights. 39. Slovenia commended the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and noted that Palau had signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It encouraged Palau to proceed to become a party to these instruments. 40. Spain especially valued Palau’s commitment to implement its policy on climate change respecting human rights, including key aspects for a dignified life, such as the human right to safe drinking water. Spain appreciated the efforts to provide assistance to migrant workers. Spain recognized the progress made regarding gender equality in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. It congratulated Palau for decriminalizing consensual homosexual activity. 41. Trinidad and Tobago commended Palau for the progress made since the last review with the signature of various international human rights conventions and the measures taken to address domestic violence and to safeguard children. It highlighted Palau’s determination to overcome its challenges despite the vulnerabilities faced by small island developing States. It stated that a similar commitment will serve to bear more fruit in the human rights sphere in the coming years and noted the invitation extended in its national report to the special procedures in areas of, inter alia, children, violence against women and climate change. 42. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed Palau’s acknowledgment of the growing problem of human trafficking, including forced prostitution and labour, and its efforts to tackle the issue. It called on Palau to focus in particular on safeguarding Palauan children from being forced into prostitution. The United Kingdom expressed concern at the continued reports of abuses committed against foreign nationals working and residing in the country and called on Palau to review its policies on foreign nationals. 43. The United States of America commended Palau for the steps taken to deter acts of domestic violence and to protect survivors, including by passing the Family Protection Act in 2012. It encouraged Palau to establish shelters to help domestic violence survivors to move forward with their lives. The United States also urged Palau to enforce the 2005 antitrafficking law by prosecuting those responsible for the crime of trafficking, rather than for lesser labour-related violations or prostitution-related offences. 44. The delegation welcomed all the recommendations and noted all the concerns raised by the speakers. About the ratification of the core human rights treaties, the delegation indicated that the country was signatory to the treaties and that the Government was working towards ensuring its obligations and considering the core treaties individually so as to undertake a legislative review and compliance. 45. With the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the country had the opportunity to reach out to its partners internationally, but in particular those at the regional level, through the programmes of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The delegation was also pleased with the national disability policy which was now in its final draft and would be presented to the Cabinet and Congress during 2016. 46. Regarding the recommendation by New Zealand to combat domestic violence, Palau indicated it had implemented a Family Protection Act in 2012. It also explained that training had been provided by the Pacific Islands programme on preventing domestic 8