A/HRC/17/2 255. The possibility of Nauru becoming a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women remained a matter under active consideration. 256. Since the review held in January 2011, the Parliament of Nauru had passed the Education Act 2011. Under the Act, education was compulsory until the age of 18 years, new provisions for teacher registration had been introduced, standards and curriculum issues addressed, the realization of the education rights of students with disabilities upheld, and many other positive changes pursued. The Parliament had also passed the Passports Act 2011, which included, inter alia, provision for the issuance of travel documents for refugees. 257. Nauru was aware that laws alone did not resolve human rights concerns, and that its endeavour represented a considerable undertaking for a small nation facing significant challenges. Nauru was encouraged by the newly opened Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva and would continue to engage with the Commonwealth secretariat and donors with regard to the possibility of establishing a small permanent mission in Geneva. 258. While expressing its gratitude for all recommendations made, Nauru called upon the international community to assist it in its efforts to further progress in human rights. Recalling the financial turmoil from which Nauru was slowly recovering, it looked forward to working in partnership with all relevant stakeholders towards a better future for its people. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 259. Algeria congratulated again Nauru on its report centred on human rights. This was even more significant considering the human and financial constraints that Nauru had to face. Algeria therefore renewed its appeal to the international community to provide Nauru with all necessary assistance. Algeria was pleased to note that its four recommendations — on access to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the fight against poverty, domestic violence and the promotion of the role of women — had all been accepted by Nauru. Algeria also noted that Nauru had accepted a vast majority of the recommendations, while those rejected mainly concerned accession to human rights treaties. Algeria believed that the heavy reporting obligation to treaty bodies overwhelmed a country like Nauru with scant resources. 260. Cuba was pleased by the additional information provided by Nauru on the recommendations made. Nauru’s review was marked by a good and rich debate, and it had become clear that, amidst challenges such as the international economic crisis and environmental issues, the promotion and protection of human rights was a priority for Nauru. Cuba welcomed the acceptance by Nauru of many recommendations, especially those concerning the socioeconomic development of the country, including its environmental aspects. Cuba shared Nauru’s dreams, expectations and successes, with the common objective of achieving development on the basis of social justice. 261. New Zealand made several recommendations, including improvements to Nauru’s reporting obligations on human rights issues, becoming a party to the core human rights instruments, ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and reviewing its policies to ensure protection of women’s rights. New Zealand congratulated Nauru on having accepted many of the recommendations, and recalled Nauru’s commitment, made at its review, to the ratification of the Convention and to the possible ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New Zealand noted that, at that time, Nauru also supported the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and intended to amend the law making homosexuality illegal. 122 GE.12-13630