A/HRC/16/12 31. France noted that the Constitution of the Marshall Islands guaranteed fundamental human rights, but asked about measures to bring national legislation into line with international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In particular, France expressed concern at the persistence of domestic violence against women. Furthermore, France inquired about measures taken by the Government of the Marshall Islands to combat corruption. France made recommendations. 32. Australia welcomed the commitment of the Marshall Islands to fulfilling its human rights obligations, particularly under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Child. However, it expressed concern at reports of violence against women. While welcoming the commitment of the Marshall Islands to meet its obligation to help people with disabilities, it encouraged the country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Australia made recommendations. 33. Morocco noted that the national report had indicated progress made in the area of human rights and welcomed the Government’s willingness to further improve the human rights situation. In particular, it welcomed the efforts made to reinforce the judiciary, improve the conditions of arrest and detention, and enhance the freedoms of expression, information, religion, assembly and association. Morocco noted with appreciation the efforts made to combat violence against women and to ensure respect for women’s rights. Morocco reiterated its call to the international community to support the Marshall Islands in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Morocco noted that the Marshall Islands would need financial assistance to address the challenges posed by climate change. Morocco asked whether the Government envisaged developing a legal framework relating to persons with disabilities, including legislation to facilitate their access to public spaces. 34. Hungary noted the growing number of non-governmental organizations in the Marshall Islands and expressed appreciation for efforts to further enhance the basic rights of citizens. It expressed concern, however, at the lack of a clear prohibition of bigamy and at the exemption of marriages from legislative requirements. While acknowledging educational reforms aimed at enhancing the basic rights of young citizens, it expressed concern at allegations of child abuse and neglect, lawful corporal punishment within the family, problems in the area of birth registration, the high number of teen-age pregnancies and barriers to the enjoyment by disabled children of their rights. Hungary made recommendations. 35 Slovakia welcomed the fact that the Marshall Islands Constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and of the media. However, it noted several areas of concern, including with respect to incidents of child neglect, abuse and domestic violence, as well as the apparent lack of data, mechanisms, resources, public debate and awareness-raising measures in that regard. Slovakia made recommendations. 36. Turkey expressed appreciation for the fact that the Marshall Islands had achieved universal suffrage and noted improvements in the participation of women in local government. It observed that the country had prohibited corporal punishment in school as an unlawful disciplinary measure and hoped that that prohibition extended to all areas of social life. Turkey hoped that measures to eradicate gender-based violence would succeed, and expressed support for efforts to improve the birth registration system. It wished to learn more about efforts to harmonize national legislation with the main human rights instruments. 37. New Zealand acknowledged that the Marshall Islands had made progress in improving its human rights situation with limited resources. It noted that the country had 8