A/HRC/18/2 society, including churches, families, parents, schools, the media, non-governmental organizations and other communities. 548. Over the years, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had signed and ratified conventions safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms. Its Constitution explicitly protected the rights to life, to personal liberty and to freedom of conscience, among other rights. It provided protection from slavery, forced labour and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, colour or creed. 549. The representative referred to the 26 pending recommendations from the Working Group session. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines could not accept the recommendations that presupposed that discrimination was encountered by children of minorities and disabled persons. The Government was not in a position to accept the claim that discrimination existed in the criminal provisions of the laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual people. Moreover, the Government was currently giving active consideration to the remaining 23 recommendations relating to international conventions and protocols, improvement of facilities and policies concerning juvenile offenders, and the ongoing implementation of measures focused on children’s development. 550. The representative mentioned the sensitivity of the economic problems of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which was often lost, and the two challenges it faced: one man-made, the other by nature, referring to the climate change and its devastating effects. The time frame also had a connection with other underlying factors, which included the mechanism to monitor obligations to additional treaties and conventions; the role of the Parliament in the scrutiny of legislation on any additional human rights obligations; the need to have a committee to advise Ministers on whether statements they made were compatible with certain human rights treaties and conventions; and the relationship between certain human rights and the Constitution. He reiterated the doctrine of the “margin of appreciation” as applied in decisions relating to the European Convention on Human Rights, where member States are given an element of discretion on how they applied Convention standards in domestic law. These were some of the underlying factors that confronted a small developing State like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines when it considered recommendations. 551. With regard to the recommendations pending, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had submitted a document containing its response (A/HRC/18/15/Add.1). Regarding the recommendations in paragraph 78 of the report, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had accepted recommendations 78.8, 78.9, 78.15, 78.17 and 78.19. 552. The recommendation in paragraph 78.16 had been categorically rejected. The recommendations that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines could not accept for the time being would receive due consideration. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 553. Algeria welcomed the fact that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had accepted most of the recommendations received during the universal periodic review. It welcomed the acceptance of its recommendation on the possibilities provided by international cooperation to strengthen its capacities, particularly to combat poverty and to continue development programmes. Algeria encouraged Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to consider the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution. Algeria stated that, on the basis of the principle that no State was free from shortcoming in the enjoyment of human rights, the international community should go beyond the presentation of recommendations to provide technical assistance as required for implementation. This was particularly true GE.12-17756 161