A/HRC/16/7 were sensitive to fluctuations in international markets. The global financial crisis had therefore badly affected the Maldivian economy, exacerbating an already fragile fiscal situation and making it increasingly difficult to promote economic, social and cultural rights. Global warming represented an existential threat to Maldives and had already undermined a wide range of human rights. 19. Maldives was the first country to have convened, under a presidential mandate, a universal periodic review Standing Committee comprising government, civil society and the national Human Rights Commission. The Standing Committee was responsible for producing the national report and, importantly, would also be responsible for coordinating the implementation of recommendations. 20. Maldives was very proud of its national Human Rights Commission, which was one of the most active national institutions in Asia, expressing hope that the new Commission, recently sworn in, would be more forthright in addressing human rights issues. The Commission was fully compliant with the Paris Principles, with one exception: the rule stating that members of the Commission must be Muslim. 21. Government efforts against gender discrimination were guided by the National Gender Equality Policy, which took a twofold approach to the problem: gender mainstreaming in all areas, and strategic action on empowerment and advancement in specific sectors. In 2009, the Government had launched a Gender Mainstreaming Policy to ensure that all policies and programmes promoted gender equality. The Government was working on a specific women’s rights bill that would guarantee the rights and obligations set out in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 22. Violence against women was a major problem, and its causes and consequences were deep and far-reaching. Maldives was in the process of adopting a new bill on domestic violence. It was working with the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and others to ensure that the bill complied with the very highest international standards. Maldives had also taken steps to amend the courts’ sentencing guidelines to provide more appropriate punishments for the perpetrators of sexual violence. 23. Trafficking was an emerging problem. Unfortunately, no official studies on the issue had been undertaken, and Maldives lacked the systems and procedures to deal with it. Steps were being taken to rectify that situation. For example, a new bill on trafficking in persons was being prepared with support from the Government of Australia, and a shelter for the victims of human trafficking was scheduled to be opened in Malé. 24. Gang-related violence was a major concern. The Government’s response had been twofold: it was trying to tackle the drug trade through a combination of the vigorous prosecution of drug dealers and rehabilitation for drug users; and the Maldives Police Service, supported by a new Act on the prohibition of gang crimes, was launching more special operations to curb gang activity. 25. The Government had taken many steps to better protect the rights of children, including in the context of abuse. Sentencing guidelines for child sex cases had been significantly strengthened in line with the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. 26. Maldives greatly valued the thousands of migrant workers who contributed to its economy. In principle, migrant workers enjoyed the same employment rights and protection as Maldivian workers; however, in practice this was not the case. The Government was working to improve that situation by making workers aware of their rights and by establishing a stronger legal framework. Maldives had yet to become party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and 5