A/HRC/33/6
22.
Significant reforms had also been made to tackle corporal punishment in schools;
the Education Act 2007 prohibited corporal punishment in schools. The Childcare
Protection Bill, which incorporated the Convention on the Rights of the Child in domestic
law, would encompass the protection of children from violence and set out standards for
approved carers. Samoa continued to conduct awareness-raising campaigns to ensure that
alternative forms of discipline were administered in a manner consistent with the child’s
human dignity and in conformity with the Convention, in particular article 28 (2). Some of
the development partners of Samoa had also institutionalized child protection policies in the
sectors in which they were engaged and that they had funded under their development
cooperation programmes.
23.
The delegation stated that Samoa to date had sought and received support for
capacity-building from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, projects funded by
development partners, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme
and the United Nations Children’s Fund. Samoa would continue to seek assistance from
United Nations agencies towards the implementation and fulfilment of its human rights
obligations. In the designing and planning of national programmes that were co-funded by
the development partners of Samoa, a rights-based approach was used so that there was
meaningful engagement with all stakeholders and the appropriate safeguards measures were
in place.
24.
On disability, the Government had taken the necessary steps to ensure that
legislative compliance reviews were undertaken and cost implementation assessments were
in place for Samoa to harmonize its human rights legislation with international standards.
The disability task force established by cabinet directive worked closely with Nuanua o le
Alofa, the focal point of contact for people with disabilities, in partnership with other nongovernmental organizations promoting inclusive participation for people with disabilities at
all levels.
25.
The Australia-Samoa partnership invested in two major programmes for people with
disabilities, the Disability Programme and the Inclusive Education Programme. The
Disability Programme was designed to assist the Government of Samoa in moving towards
ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, now planned to be
done by December 2016.
26.
On legislative review and policy measures, the Government was committed to
ensuring that the treaties already ratified, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the
Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, as well as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities once it was
ratified, were incorporated in national laws and implementation plans. To that end, Samoa
was working with relevant government agencies and offices to ensure that the principles
contained in ratified treaties were incorporated in national laws and programmes for
implementation.
27.
With regard to justice and law reforms, one of the key goals of the public
administration sector plan for the period 2014-2018 was working towards establishment of
an independent anti-corruption commission. The sector intended to seek technical
assistance from the development partners of Samoa for the design and structure of the
commission.
28.
Currently, there was an anti-corruption partnership between the National
Prosecution Office, the Chief Auditor and Controller and the police. A freedom of
information act must be based on national policy direction. Despite the absence of such an
act, there was freedom to access and disseminate information and there was freedom of
expression.
6
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