A/HRC/19/5 19. On the issue of corporal punishment, the Education Act 2008 provided for it to be administered only by the School Principal or the Deputy or their delegate in the enforcement of discipline at schools, provided that it was not degrading or injurious, and conformed to guidelines issued by the Director of Education, with particulars thereof to be recorded in writing. The Minister might by order abolish the use thereof altogether, but such an order was to be laid before Parliament for adoption or revocation – that provision clearly indicated expressed societal concerns over the total abolition of corporal punishment in schools. However, the Corporal Punishment Act which allowed for whipping and flogging of males in prison should be repealed; in any event, no such punishment had been ordered by the courts in a long time. 20. Antigua and Barbuda believed that national development in all its aspects was, in a real sense, a fundamental human right. It recognized the relationship between development rights and human rights and accepted that the advancement of these rights was inextricably linked to human development. It also believed that the establishment and advancement of all universal human rights could only be seen through this developmental prism. Significant investments and marked improvements had been achieved in the areas of education, housing, health, economic development, social protection, poverty reduction, and assistance to the elderly and disadvantaged in its society – all of which came at great financial cost to the Government and the constant re-mobilization of its limited human resources. 21. The delegation stated that, undoubtedly, one of the major challenges which Antigua and Barbuda, as a small developing State, faced was that of institutional capacity. It had established the International Treaties Unit within the Ministry of Legal Affairs to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to compile and keep a data bank of its international treaty obligations. This Unit would be tasked with the responsibility of overseeing compliance with the various human rights obligations of the State and disseminating relevant information to the public to sensitize and shape public opinion. The databank would also inform Government of the various international human rights instruments which should be adopted and enforced as part of its domestic law, given the dualist legal system under which it operated. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 22. During the interactive dialogue, 29 delegations made statements. A number of delegations welcomed the participation of Antigua and Barbuda in the universal periodic review and thanked the Government for its national report. Delegations also welcomed the frank presentation delivered by Antigua and Barbuda. They acknowledged its commitment to human rights despite the many challenges faced by small island States. Recommendations made during the dialogue can be found in chapter II of the present report. 23. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted the commitment of Antigua and Barbuda to education as a significant tool for social transformation. Despite economic constraints, the island was taking steps to reach universal education by 2013. Moreover, free education was guaranteed at the primary and secondary levels and education was compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. It also commended the school feeding programme which operated in 19 primary schools located in the most disadvantaged areas and the grants provided for uniforms and the free access to books. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela made a recommendation. 24. Cuba recalled that Antigua and Barbuda was part of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America. Cuba had contributed to its development of health, education, and infrastructure. Antigua and Barbuda had suffered from an unjust international economic order, world crises and other challenges faced by humanity. However, the island had taken 6