A/HRC/12/4 Page 9 under the Universal Declaration on Indigenous Rights, particularly with regard to the provision of land. 43. Belize recognized that accession to international human rights treaties is necessary to consolidate the national human rights architecture that has been constructed and continues to be strengthened. 44. Belize is reviewing its national, strategic and action plan on poverty with a view towards ensuring that the actions taken effectively address vulnerable populations with emphasis on the lowest quintile. Belize has a policy framework for persons with disabilities, however Belize acknowledges the necessity of strengthening its efforts in this area and is seeking to engage its civil society partners in this regard. 45. Though the prison is managed by the Kolbe Foundation, a private entity, oversight is maintained by the Ministry of National Security. A Government-appointed superintendent of prisons monitors the functioning of prisons. Furthermore, a majority of the board of governors of the Kolbe Foundation are appointed by the Government. 46. Belize regards the rate of maternal mortality as a matter of priority. Through proactive and rigorous interventions by the Maternal and Child Health Unit in the Ministry of Health incidents of maternal mortality have decreased over the past two years. 47. The Office of the Ombudsman is well received. The Belizean people appreciate that it is an objective and honest broker that deals very sensitively with the concerns of the general population. The main limitation to its work is one of lack of resources. 48. Several initiatives focus on children’s rights and aim at adherence to the concluding observations of Committee on the Rights of the Child. This includes a national plan, developed in partnership with the ILO, on issues of child labour and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. As the result of a recent review on progress made over the past eighteen months, Belize is now seeking to engage NGO partners to consolidate the gains and further advance work in this area. 49. Maldives recognized Belize's efforts to create awareness, protect and educate children, in particular the National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents 2004-2015 adopted with the endorsement of both political parties. It encouraged Belize to seek technical assistance to fully implement this Plan of Action, as was recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It noted important challenges remain, including, in terms of small States, the limitations on financial and human resources, and capacity-building. It agreed that meeting human rights reporting obligations remains a major challenge for small States, and highlighted the benefits and advantages of preparing a Common Core Document with the information that the State is required to send to each treaty report. 50. Azerbaijan said it found the national report and presentation open and constructive as it highlights initiatives and efforts of the Government for the promotion and protection of human rights, but also existing challenges, like gender-based violence, women’s limited participation in public life and the high rate of HIV/AIDS. It commended Belize for its human rights-based approach in development planning, social services and general policy formulation and execution, as well as for being party to core international human rights covenants. It commended the national gender policy and the National Gender-Based Violence Plan 2007-2009, but urged the Government (a) to improve the institutional capacity of the national machinery for the