A/HRC/18/12 details regarding the content and implementation of the National Gender Action Plan. Chile made recommendations. 54. Maldives noted the efforts of Suriname in the promotion and protection of women and children’s rights. It recognized the challenge to provide uniform education to children in rural and urban areas, acknowledging efforts made. While understanding the immense challenges and capacity constraints faced by small island developing countries, particularly least developing countries, it considered open and transparent engagement with international partners as key to overcoming these challenges. Maldives made recommendations. 55. The United States of America expressed concern that Surinamese laws did not afford any special protection for or recognition of indigenous people and that indigenous persons continued to be disadvantaged in a number of areas. It also noted problems faced by indigenous persons with illegal and uncontrolled mining on their lands. Furthermore, it was concerned about trafficking in persons to and from Suriname and urged Suriname to enhance efforts to identify and assist victims, increase awareness-raising efforts and offer foreign victims legal alternatives to deportation. It made recommendations. 56. Trinidad and Tobago appreciated the efforts made by Suriname for the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly with regard to women, children and young people’s rights. In that regard, it also recalled the establishment of the Human Rights Bureau within the Ministry of Justice and Police, the National Bureau for Gender Policy, the Women and Child Policy Bureau and the National Youth Institute. Trinidad and Tobago made recommendations. 57. Mexico acknowledged efforts by Suriname to implement treaty body recommendations. It also highlighted work carried out towards the adoption of a law to combat domestic violence, to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to prepare a draft law on the rights of indigenous peoples. Mexico made recommendations. 58. Belgium commended Suriname for launching several projects in partnership with United Nations agencies. However, it noted that tangible progress was lacking, in particular with respect to the promotion of women and children rights. Belgium inquired about the measures that Suriname planned to take to fight against sexual exploitation of women and children, a too frequent phenomenon that provided a fertile ground for the development of human trafficking networks. It also referred to the de facto moratorium on death penalty since 1982 and the signature by Suriname of the American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José). Belgium made recommendations. 59. Slovakia commended Suriname for prioritizing children’s rights and the adoption and implementation of key legislation and concrete measures to address the issue. It noted reports of discrimination suffered by indigenous peoples and the lack of specific legislative framework to guarantee the realization of their rights. It also noted that Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had observed that the pace of legal reforms was slow and that there was a lack of progress in attaining women’s de jure equality. Slovakia made recommendations. 60. Ecuador welcomed Surinamese efforts to consult with and to include civil society in the preparation of its national report. It recalled that Suriname was a country rich in natural resources, racially and ethnically diverse, with a high percentage of its population from indigenous and tribal groups. Ecuador made recommendations. 61. Barbados noted progress in promoting issues relating to gender equality. It also observed that the law had been revised in accordance with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. It additionally noted 10