A/HRC/17/2 parliamentary ombudsman as a means of reinforcing effective avenues for redress of human rights concerns and grievances. 348. The issue of marginalized youth was a matter of growing concern. Saint Lucia informed the Human Rights Council that, to give effect to existing policies and to implement new policies and programmes, an increased allocation had been announced in the Government budget in April 2011. In addition, the Government was developing partnerships with non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to ensure that the needs of youth were met in an adequate and timely manner. 349. Concerning children, steps had been taken to ensure that children were born healthy. It was necessary to ensure that they continue to be afforded every protection to enable them to progressively develop and not become marginalized. Legislative reforms were being pursed at the national level as well as within the framework of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, to secure improved protections and standards of living for children. 350. With regard to the elderly, the population and the Government gave equal importance to the care of the elderly. A new home for the elderly had been built to accommodate the aging population as the country sought to improve the quality of life and health care. 351. Regarding torture and violence, and violence against women in particular, the Government did not condone violence in any form against any person or group of persons. It reiterated that the Constitution of Saint Lucia already protected all persons against such unlawful acts, and that domestic legislation, through the criminal code, provided further measures of redress. Additionally, after the review, some of those measures could be strengthened. The Government is aware of the need to address the root causes and sources of such acts, and was therefore taking measures to address not just the legal framework but also the socioeconomic factors that would help to reduce or eliminate them. Saint Lucia expressed its belief that concerns in these areas would be positively addressed through education, civics and programmes that help to instil respect for each other and bring about social change. 352. On socioeconomic aspects and poverty, the eradication of poverty remained a central pillar of Government policy and programmes, because poverty was the root cause of many of society’s ills. The Government was committed to ensuring that programmes aimed at providing services to the poor were continued and strengthened. Much of this was accomplished through such agencies as the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund, which, through diverse policy measures, sought to secure an improved quality of life for the socially or economically disadvantaged. 353. In conclusion, Saint Lucia thanked Member States for their valuable comments and recommendations. It assured the Human Rights Council that every effort would be made to implement the recommendations accepted. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 354. Algeria expressed its appreciation for the constructive engagement of Saint Lucia in the universal periodic review process. It noted the Government’s commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, demonstrated by the country’s acceptance of the vast majority of recommendations made. In particular, Algeria appreciated the acceptance of recommendations to ratify the international instruments to which it was not yet party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Furthermore, it encouraged Saint Lucia to consider supporting existing efforts to universalize the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant 136 GE.12-13630