A/HRC/32/11 violence, with the support of New Zealand, and added that the Police Force was leading a campaign to tackle violence against women. 47. The delegation indicated that the Family Protection Act was a very strong piece of legislation, which has helped many women and families so far, and stated that reconciliation under the customary process was not a bar to prosecution, therefore, even if there may be reconciliation between family members, domestic violence was considered a crime and prosecution would continue. 48. The delegation stated that the most important protection provided for under the Family Protection Act was that any person who was threatened or harmed could obtain a protective order from the court 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 49. The delegation asserted that it needed shelters and safe houses. It explained that this was its biggest challenge and it requested support and technical and financial assistance to build shelters and safe houses not only for victims of family violence but also for children who were living under difficult conditions in homes where there was violence. 50. Palau noted that the Penal Code protected children against child exploitation, which was criminalized. It pointed out that there was existing legislation that criminalized endangering a minor or his or her welfare, even when it was a parent who allowed a third person to endanger or hurt his or her child. 51. In response to questions on the situation of migrant workers formulated by the Philippines and the United States of America, the delegation of Palau stated that they were working on it and that legislation was pending before the National Congress to ensure safe working conditions and fair salaries. The Minimum Wage Act contains a provision that enables workers who are not being paid the minimum wage or who work under unsafe conditions to file a case against their employer with the Attorney General’s Office. 52. Uruguay welcomed Palau’s membership in the International Labour Organization and its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While welcoming the fact that Palau had signed a large number of international human rights instruments, Uruguay noted with concern that none of them had yet been ratified. It also welcomed the progress made in ensuring gender equality, but noted that Palau did not have a law explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 53. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted that Palau had signed various international human rights instruments and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, thus strengthening its domestic legislation in this area. It welcomed the steps taken to establish a national human rights institution and the adoption of a gender policy to be mainstreamed in government programmes. It also noted the measures taken to combat discrimination against women. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela highlighted the establishment of the National Health Insurance, in 2011, that covers everybody, including those who have not made contributions to the system and those who are no longer employed. 54. Algeria welcomed the efforts to promote the human rights of children and of persons with disabilities, as well as to combat violence against women, trafficking in persons and climate change. It noted with satisfaction the signature of the core human rights instruments. It welcomed the results in the area of education, following the adoption of the Education Master Plan, 2006-2016. 55. Argentina welcomed the efforts made since the last review and congratulated Palau on the decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations in the Penal Code. It considered that Palau still needed to overcome some challenges and noted that particular attention should be given to vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities. 9