A/HRC/30/13 National Gender Policy and the Public School System Act. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela made a recommendation. 41. Algeria commended the efforts deployed by the Marshall Islands to promote and protect human rights, in particular the adoption of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act. It also congratulated the Marshall Islands on the measures adopted for the protection of children. It mentioned that the review of its national report referred to major challenges such as climate change and nuclear tests. Algeria made recommendations. 42. Argentina congratulated the Marshall Islands for the establishment of the National Strategic Plan 2015–2017 and the National Policy on Disability Inclusive Development 2014–2018. Argentina made recommendations. 43. Armenia noted the steps taken for raising awareness about human rights including through the mass media, the open invitation extended to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council, and the initiatives to promote women’s rights. Armenia was concerned, however, that the Marshall Islands had not yet ratified numerous core international human rights instruments. It also encouraged the Marshall Islands to take additional measures to promote human rights education. Armenia made recommendations. 44. Australia congratulated the Marshall Islands for the enactment of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2011, while recognizing that efforts were still required to address the challenges posed by domestic violence. It also commended the country’s participation in the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, and stated that Australia would be pleased to assist the Marshall Islands in implementing the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to improve water sanitation and waste management. Australia made recommendations. 45. Belgium welcomed the efforts deployed by the Marshall Islands to follow up on the results of the first universal periodic review. In particular it commended the adoption of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2011, which represented a real stride forward. Despite the globally positive records of the Marshall Islands in the human rights sphere, Belgium suggested expanding the ratification of international human rights instruments and approving the implementation of existing legislation. Belgium made recommendations. 46. Responding to other questions, the Marshall Islands indicated that it was a matriarchal society. Traditionally, women dealt with the most important aspect of island life, the passage of land rights. The sense of belonging to the community in an extended family or a clan situation was based on where you must work, own land and be a caretaker for the future children of that land. That aspect, which was the most important of Marshallese society, influenced the behaviour of adults in the community. Over the past decades, with the urbanization of the island population, with the need to be displaced not just by choice but for various reasons including drugs, famine, floods and other reasons, the population had not lent itself to the traditional manner of dealing with extended family issues. As a result, it had to rely on modern law and processes to which access was limited and of which it had an even more limited understanding. 47. The Marshall Islands strived to make sure that Government measures for the prevention of domestic and gender violence and the protection of children, including guaranteeing their rights to health and education, were part of the country’s constitutional responsibility. It still remained a task and a challenge for the Government to ensure that domestic violence was avoided first of all and then when it did occur it was properly prosecuted and prevented from future expansion. The Marshall Islands underlined that it was doing its best to deal with the problem, with the assistance of regional organizations, the United Nations as well as NGOs. 9