A/HRC/41/10 inspection team to inspect and report on conditions and treatment in correctional centres; the establishment of the Ministry of Climate Change and the Gender and Protection Cluster, which ensured consideration of gender and protection issues in the context of natural disasters; the establishment of the Right to Information Unit under the Right to Information Act; the formulation of the National Disability-Inclusive Development Policy, 2018–2025; and the formulation of the National Anti-Corruption Policy Framework, 2018–2022. 20. Natural disasters and climate change had been the core challenge affecting the Government and the people of Vanuatu. The impact of climate change and hostile natural calamities continued to impede national development and progress. The National Sustainable Development Plan provided the strategy for addressing challenges and constraints to improve the human rights situation in the country. The national budget mirrored implementation of the priorities identified in the Plan, as a priority framework for the Government. Further development assistance was sought towards realizing the Plan. 21. The Government recognized the importance of building a strong, capable workforce, and was therefore committed to ensuring capacity-building and training of its officials across ministries and departments. In that regard, the Government sought further technical training support and resources from technical agencies, funding institutions, regional and international organizations and development partners. Further training on human rights and thematic issues was needed for all relevant stakeholders, particularly the police, correctional officers, teachers and health workers. 22. In light of the fact that Vanuatu would graduate in 2020 from the status of least developed country, the Government had established a steering committee to oversee that process with a view to a smooth transition. The delegation thanked the relevant organizations within the United Nations for their continuous support in preparing the country. 23. In response to the questions submitted in advance, the delegation said that the Ministry of Justice and Community Services had planned to carry out a scoping study in 2019 for the establishment of a national human rights institution. The Ministry had received confirmation of technical assistance with that scoping study from the Pacific Community, the Regional Rights Resource Team and the OHCHR Regional Office. Access to justice was one of the core objectives of the Ministry of Justice and Community Services sector corporate plan. In that connection, through a project funded by the Government of Australia, assistance was being provided to the judiciary in dealing with the backlog of court cases. The Government had received assistance with respect to the design of the case-management system for the courts, the State Law Office, the Vanuatu Police Force, the Public Solicitor’s Office, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and capacity development of staff and officials. The case-management system had been in use from mid-November 2015. File management had been improved by court appearance forms. In 2015, 253 criminal files had been opened and 332 had been closed, which had reduced the backlog of stale criminal files. Approximately 1,300 civil files and 400 criminal files needed to be closed. The updated case-management system would make it easier to ascertain the status of each criminal case and therefore facilitate file closure. The appointment of authorized persons under the Family Protection Act provided an avenue for access to justice for vulnerable groups on matters related to domestic violence at the community level. In addition, the Public Solicitor’s Office provided legal aid to needy persons and could be accessed by vulnerable groups. 24. Parliament had enacted legislation introducing a quota system for women’s election to municipal councils, which had been in effect since 2013. The Government was considering a similar system for female participation at the provincial government council level. Moreover, the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign was being coordinated by the Department of Women’s Affairs. The Penal Code Act had been amended to increase the penalties for sexual offences. The Department of Women’s Affairs continued to carry out awareness-raising campaigns in communities on the rights of women and children. The Government had established the Family Protection Unit within the Vanuatu Police Force to assist women and children, particularly in obtaining protection orders under the Family Protection Act. The Government was considering drafting a child protection bill to give effect to the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Family Protection Act marked the Government’s first attempt to give effect to the 5