A/HRC/23/11 16. It was highlighted that the trafficking in children was also criminalized and that the Transnational Organized Crime (Prevention and Control) Act provided for a penalty of life imprisonment for persons convicted of trafficking a child. 17. Regarding the establishment of a national human rights institution, Barbados explained that it had taken steps to transform the scope of the Office of the Ombudsman to include responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights. Legislation to be brought before Parliament would provide for the Ombudsman to be appointed by the Governor General acting on recommendations of both houses of Parliament. This draft was currently before the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and discussions will be held during the year on the structure, responsibility and financial and human resources required. 18. With regard to human rights education, the delegation noted that several television promotions were aired daily on the Government-operated television station on human rights, the rights of children, sexual abuse and the Unite Against Violence Campaign. Additionally, discussions with the Commonwealth Secretariat were under way with regard to the development of a human rights public education programme. 19. On domestic violence, the Government was firmly committed to pursuing a policy of zero tolerance of all forms of violence against women. It was highlighted that the Bureau of Gender Affairs had established a committee to review the existing Domestic Violence (Prevention Orders) Act. The Bureau had also promoted public education through a number of public forums. It was added that the policy of the Police Force was to investigate all reports of domestic violence and that police officers continued to receive training on intervention and investigation of such cases. Additionally, the Police Force was working with the Bureau of Gender Affairs and other stakeholders to design a pilot data-collection instrument to improve data collection on the incidence of domestic violence. 20. Regarding the death penalty, the Government noted that there did not appear to be a national consensus or bipartisan support for the abolition of capital punishment. However, it was underscored that there had been no executions since 1984. On the issue of the mandatory death penalty, legislation had been drafted to provide for its abolition and preparations are being finalized for submission of this draft legislation to Cabinet prior to introduction to Parliament. 21. Similarly, on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (LGBT) issues, there was no consensus on repealing the country’s laws on “buggery”. Though buggery is criminalized by the Sexual Offences Act, persons who engaged in same-sex relationships were not prosecuted, since without a complaint there could be no successful prosecution of such acts. Persons engaged in such relationships were unlikely to complain to the police and therefore, though the law on buggery was in the statutes books, gay persons were not prosecuted in Barbados for their sexual preferences. Prosecution could only occur if a minor was involved or a non-consenting adult. 22. Barbados took note of the position of the international community that there was an onus on the Government to show leadership on such issues. Nevertheless, it recalled that Barbados was a democracy and that, as such, the Government was hesitant to go against the wishes of its people. However, it was committed to ensuring that the rights of all persons were protected from harm. 23. On the issue of the protection of children, Barbados continued to strengthen efforts and the Government had enlisted the services of a consultant to examine the Family Law Act and all legislation that related to children with a view to ensuring that the law was in line with internationally accepted protocols and standards. The Government had also taken steps to institute a mandatory reporting requirement in all cases of child abuse. 5