A/HRC/26/9 for technical assistance and support in strengthening its capacities in the field of human rights. 47. Vanuatu replied to the questions raised. 48. In connection with the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Vanuatu stated that, in 2012, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources, was aiming to ensure access to appropriate and sustainable drinking water supply for 96 per cent of the population. Twelve water and sanitation projects had been developed, 12 new water systems installed and 5 sanitation projects completed. Moreover, in 2014, 24 water systems would be maintained in communities and 20 hand pumps would be installed at each project site. A 10-year National Water Strategy had been formulated to enforce the Water Resource Management Act of 2002. 49. Additionally, in guaranteeing the right to water for all, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was currently implementing the integrated water project, which focused on addressing access to water in the country’s northern provinces of the country. It had also developed a 10-year National Water Strategy to extend the coverage of rural water supply systems to 79 per cent of rural areas in 2014. 50. On free education, the Government of Vanuatu was not yet considering free education beyond primary education, especially in the formal system. The Government had been subsidizing fees in secondary education with a grant of 8,900 vatu per child. However, after 2017, the Government would consider further a possible decision on free education beyond classes 1–6. 51. With regard to the ratification of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ICC, Vanuatu stated that, although it had ratified the Rome Statue, it had not transposed it into its national legislation, as consultations on the matter were ongoing. 52. Vanuatu was also yet to conduct further consultations on the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and would consider its ratification once those consultations were completed. 53. The delegation added that Vanuatu was progressively realizing the Convention relating to the status of refugees on the basis of the experiences of its neighbouring countries that had already ratified the Convention. 54. With regard to the question on the acceptance of the individual complaints procedures under the human rights conventions to which it was already a State party, Vanuatu was yet to consider accepting such procedures and it was seeking technical assistance in that regard. 55. On enshrining the right to education in the Constitution, it was clarified that the Government of Vanuatu would be considering the right to education through the Vanuatu Law Commission and the constitutional review committee. 56. On the issue of birth registration for all children, the delegation reported that, with the assistance of Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Vanuatu had set up a civil registry and vital statistical committee to improve the registry system, especially for to improve the link between immigration and passports, and birth certificates. To date about 80 per cent of the population had been registered. 57. The delegation explained that, in 2012, the Department of Women’s Affairs and the Regional Rights Resource Team had submitted to the Vanuatu Law Commission revisions of the Penal Code. However, they were pending due to funding delays for the Children’s’ Act. Steps taken included working in collaboration with the Department, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Health in 2013 and 2014. 9

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