A/HRC/17/2 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome 341. Saint Lucia welcomed the universal periodic review process, because it was an opportunity to ascertain how the world judged the country’s efforts to provide the conditions for the development of its citizens. Saint Lucia expressed its appreciation for the comments, suggestions and recommendations received. Recommendations were under consideration in order to determine how they fit into the country’s development strategies, how they could improve its performance, and in what areas collaboration with others could enhance Saint Lucia’s ability to provide its citizens with the best governance frameworks. This last point had been the concern of successive Governments of Saint Lucia. 342. Saint Lucia recalled that the country was young, with limited natural resources and a small population that nevertheless expected no less from its Government than the guarantee of living in peace, security and prosperity. This required the acceptance by all citizens of, and their participation in, priorities, policies and decision-making processes. Interaction, information-sharing and consultation at all levels were therefore necessary. The fact that, despite the many challenges it faced, Saint Lucia was categorized as a middle-income country and had been able to achieve, and in some cases surpass, many targets of the millennium development goals, attested to the willingness of both the Government and the people to ensure that gains were made on all fronts. Foremost of these was respect for the human rights of citizens and all those who came to the country, and the vigilance that must be maintained to ensure that shortcomings are corrected in an expeditious manner. It indicated that it was within this framework that Saint Lucia had reviewed the recommendations made. 343. As could be seen in both the national report and responses provided, many of the recommendations made were in accord with the country’s aims and were already being addressed. Others were being considered and a decision regarding them would be made after consultations and a review of the country’s capacity to implement. The reason for this was that Saint Lucia took its commitments and obligations seriously and wanted to ensure that, once it undertook a commitment, it would implement it. In this regard, it welcomed the proposals to help the country to overcome its challenges through assistance to improve its human resources capacity, policy development and implementation, and the sharing of experiences. 344. Saint Lucia subsequently highlighted certain key points. 345. Regarding ratifications, it had outlined in the addendum the five Treaties or conventions considered to be the most pressing in the light of the country’s limited human resources and their impact on society. In addition, the optional protocols to some others, for example the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, would also be considered a priority. Other instruments were also considered important, but there was a need to ensure that actions were taken one step at a time. 346. With regard to its legislative framework, Saint Lucia was in the process of a constitutional review that would enable adjustments based on the preferences of the governed. Although Saint Lucia was not a party to a number of international agreements, related provisions were already incorporated into national legislation. Indeed, many provisions of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, had been incorporated into domestic law by means of the Counter-Trafficking Act, which had come into force in February 2010. 347. Regarding recommendations to strengthen human rights institutions, Saint Lucia stressed that it intended to strengthen the capacity and scope of the office of the GE.12-13630 135