A/HRC/32/11 addresses sexual assault of children and provides for the registration of sex offenders. Higher penalties were introduced to deter human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. The Family Protection Act, 2012 provides protection for children in violent domestic settings. Pursuant to a recommendation from the first review, the delegation announced that there was pending legislation before Congress to equalize the legal minimum age for marriage to 18 years. 16. Palau’s Constitution provides for free and compulsory education for all children living in Palau (art. VI). It further highlights the promotion of the health and social welfare of citizens through free or subsidized health care. The Government has declared 2016 the Year of the Youth, during which, attention will be fully focused on youth development and programmes. 17. At the time of its first review, Palau was a party to only the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has since implemented recommendations 62.1 to 62.5 of the first review (see A/HRC/18/5) by signing the core human rights treaties, namely, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in the margins of the 66th session of the General Assembly in 2011. Palau was pleased to announce that it had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013 and is currently in the process of formulating a policy on disability. In addition, the President had issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring 3 December 2015 the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and had called on the people of Palau to observe the day with appropriate programmes, ceremonies and activities. 18. The delegation stated that Palau supported the fundamental principles of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Constitution of Palau provides for the prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as excessive fines. While noting the importance of acceding to the Rome Statute, Palau still needs to consider the technical and resource implications of such accession. However, Palau has sufficient legislative safeguards to address grave human rights violations. 19. The Government recognized the value of each of the core human rights treaties, however, it needed a broader ratification timeline to allow for more rigorous oversight into the realities of ratification and implementation of the core treaties against the backdrop of immediate challenges. Nonetheless, Palau was taking considerable steps, including visiting each treaty with an open mind towards ratification. 20. Palau noted the importance of ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Despite the challenges, much progress has been made with regard to migrant workers, such as the increase in minimum wage and its universal application. 21. The Reporting Committee on United Nations Human Rights Treaties was created on 29 May 2014 by Presidential Executive Order No. 368. That was Palau’s first attempt towards national coordination of its human rights reporting obligations. The Committee is comprised of Cabinet ministers supported by a working group from government agencies and relevant stakeholders. 5