A/HRC/17/18 assistant and health promoters. Each such unit served 3,200 persons. Until mid-2010, 276 units had been established in 17 provinces and 144 districts, providing coverage to 1.104 million people. By the end of 2011, 500 units were to be established, benefiting 2 million people who were below the poverty line. 17. For the Paraguayan Government, there was no doubt that education was critical when talking about human rights. The Constitution had established that basic public education should be free and compulsory. Also, Paraguay offered a programme of bilingual education, in both Guarani and Spanish. The programme was aimed at the entire school population at all educational levels. In addition, there was also a specific education programme for indigenous peoples. 18. The delegation had also spent considerable time on the human rights situation of certain groups or sectors. 19. In January 2010, Paraguay had presented its most recent report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and given significant priority to that issue. 20. The National System for Integral Protection and Promotion of Children and Adolescents and the National Council for Childhood and Adolescence were incorporated in the Code of Childhood and Adolescence. A strategic plan 2008–2013 focused on the implementation of public policies for integral protection, the effective functioning of institutions and the restoration of rights of children and adolescents in situations of vulnerability. 21. With respect to the rights of women, the Women’s Bureau of the Presidency of the Republic was charged with the development, coordination and implementation of public policies, incorporating a gender component to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and promote equal opportunities. This secretariat implemented the First, Second and Third National Plan for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men, following the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing. 22. As for the rights of persons with disabilities, the National Institute for the Protection of Exceptional People was responsible for diagnosis and rehabilitation work. Between 2009 and 2010, the institute had served approximately 187,000 persons, a historical record. 23. With respect to the rights of indigenous peoples, in recent years the Executive had enacted important presidential decrees to establish policies, such as Decree No. 1,945/09 which created the National Integral Programme of Indigenous Peoples. The consultation process established in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 had also been established. 24. The delegation concluded by saying that Paraguay was a small country, with just over 6 million inhabitants, without direct access to the sea, and which had endured two international wars that had decimated its population. Nevertheless, it had been able to maintain its independence, defeat dictatorships, and find a way towards a more just social coexistence on the basis of the respect for fundamental rights. The delegation was ready to answer questions, bearing in mind the limitations produced by this historical context, and requested respectfully the support and assistance of all States present during the interactive dialogue for the consolidation of policies to promote and protect human rights in Paraguay. 25. The Minister presented to the consideration of the delegations the following documents: (a) Resolution No. 2039 of 2010 of the Paraguayan Indigenous Institute, establishing compliance with the minimum requirements and obligations of the Consultation on the framework of ILO Convention No. 169 and its direct application; (b) Concept Paper on National Public Security Policy; (c) Resolution of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, revoking preventive measures in the case “Hospital Neurosiquiátrico”. 5