A/HRC/18/14 national human rights institution and inquired about how Samoa used local culture and traditions to promote human rights. The Philippines further inquired about how Samoa addressed the climate change effects on human rights and about the areas in which it needed international assistance. The Philippines noted the efforts made by Samoa in enhancing women’s rights. It made recommendations. 60. Samoa proceeded to respond to some of the concerns and questions raised during the interactive dialogue. 61. On the area of the advancement of women and improving the rights of children, Samoa pointed out that the Cabinet had endorsed the National Policy for Women, the National Policy for Children and the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, which provided the strategic direction for the delivery of the obligations of Samoa under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 62. On the issue of persons with disabilities, Samoa noted the recent establishment of the Unit for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development. That development would assist in the coordination and provision of support to the National Disabilities Taskforce and help advance efforts towards the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 63. On the questions relating to the issue of violence against women and children, Samoa noted that it continued to conduct education, awareness and advocacy programmes in order to change mindsets and attitudes towards gender violence. The implementation of the policies for women and children would strengthen the policy and legal framework of Samoa through gender mainstreaming, delivery of gender trainings and the conduct of social impact assessments, in order that women and children might have full enjoyment of their human rights. 64. Regarding the effectiveness of steps taken to address violence against women, Samoa mentioned that it had confidence in the effectiveness of steps taken to tackle that problem, as evidenced in the number of reported cases that had reached the Courts. Samoa noted that it was continuing its advocacy and educational efforts to raise awareness among men and women about the importance of tackling the issue. 65. Concerning the ratification of international instruments, Samoa reiterated that it was a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the eight fundamental human rights conventions of the International Labour Organization, and a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Government would continue to actively assess the implication of accession to the remaining human rights conventions to which members had referred, in the context of its ability to meet the financial, legislative, institutional and administrative obligations required of Samoa as a State party. Samoa noted that while it was not yet a party to those other human rights conventions, their objectives and provisions had been already mainstreamed and incorporated in national plans and programmes. 66. With regard to the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights of Samoans, Samoa indicated that climate change affected food security, the right to water, access to health, the right to life, the right to an adequate standard of living, and freedom of movement, due to internal displacements. National resources were redirected to climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes, including the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas and communities that had been devastated or would be devastated by natural disasters and climatic events. Samoa looked forward to working closely with its development partners and intergovernmental organizations on mitigation and adaptation 11