A/HRC/8/48 Page 12 45. The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations acknowledged with thanks the offer made by Switzerland with respect to providing support for Tonga’s reporting obligations to the treaty bodies. On the issue of deportees and their reintegration into Tongan society, she indicated that the Government is working very closely with NGOs and faith-based institutions to set up programmes to assist their reintegration, and donor partners are assisting the Government and the NGOs in that regard. On the issue of combating unemployment, Tonga has a very strong youth movement involved in training programmes to assist youth to find meaningful employment, and there are other programmes, such as rural development programmes, that provide support to setting up of small businesses. Furthermore, New Zealand has a labour mobility programme from which Tonga and other countries in the Pacific have benefited through the employment of seasonal workers, and Australia is considering a similar arrangement. On the issue of the scope of the diversion scheme set up specifically to deal with offenders from the November riot, she noted that this scheme had been successful, and it is anticipated that the scheme will continue and be expanded in the future. Regarding the abolishment of corporal punishment in all settings, Tonga ratified CRC in 1995, and has since then abolished corporal punishment in schools. The Tongan way of life is based on an extended family that sees children freely move and develop under the influence of extended family members with shared responsibility. Respect and dignity within this family unit are integral to social development. Violence against children is not tolerated in that village society. On the issue of the right to privacy and sexual activity between consenting adults, she noted the concerns raised with regard to the legislation and indicated that Tonga is an inclusive society with tolerant Christian values that require respect across differences. 46. Slovenia called exemplary Tonga’s wide and comprehensive national consultations in preparing its report, and hoped that this would help in the context of the ongoing constitutional reform process. It also hoped it would prompt Tonga to consider signing or acceding to further international human rights instruments. Commending Tonga on its longstanding attention to the education of children with special needs, Slovenia asked whether Tonga would consider introducing mandated provisions for services for persons with disabilities that currently do not exist and recommended that Tonga pay increased attention to persons with disabilities and their related needs. It also recommended that Tonga systematically and continuously integrate a gender perspective in the follow-up process to the review. 47. Morocco noted Tonga’s dedication to human rights, inter alia, the high school enrolment rates and that woman occupy important functions. It also noted Tonga’s need for support and assistance to strengthen its capacity. It noted the initiatives taken by Tonga, including to accede to CEDAW and to promote education and training in human rights, and recommended that Tonga continue to step up its efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights with the full support of the international community, as requested in the report submitted by Tonga to the UPR. Morocco commended Tonga on its commitment to multilateralism through its participation in the peacekeeping forces of the United Nations and in the presidency of the Pacific Forum. 48. Australia commended Tonga on its constructive engagement with the UPR process noting that as a first Pacific Island country to appear before the UPR, it is a model of constructive participation, and on its efforts fully promotes and protects human rights. It welcomed Tonga’s commitment to constitutional and political reform and noted the progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, raising the standards of the Tonga Police Force and preventing violence against women. It welcomed Tonga’s interest in regional mechanisms to assist it and other Pacific Island countries to ratify and comply with human rights instruments. It would welcome Tonga becoming a party to ICCPR and ICESCR; signing the Optional Protocol to CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and ratifying CEDAW. It also highlighted the