A/HRC/19/2 470. In Trinidad and Tobago, corporal punishment was currently maintained as part of the Penal Code, but was strictly forbidden in schools by a national code of conduct. While it was a long accepted practice used to discipline children, like many other aspects of Trinidad and Tobago’s societal development this too was subject to change. In an effort to foster new thinking, it pointed out that the current administration had created the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, headed by a female senator who was a former social rights activist. 471. Trinidad and Tobago identified education as a key factor in the necessary paradigm shift in relation to corporal punishment. As highlighted in its universal periodic review report, the current administration had committed a great deal of resources to improving the accessibility of educational opportunities to the population, clearly demonstrated in the number of early childhood education centres being built, the school food initiative, the transportation facilities offered to students and the provision of school uniforms, as well as a book rental programme and its laptop initiative. 472. There had also been a legislative move to increase the mandatory age of school attendance from 12 to 16 years of age in the children’s bill currently being debated in Parliament. It observed that, on 9 March 2012, the Minister for Gender, Youth and Child Development had moved the second reading of the bill, which adjourned at 11.35 p.m. This underscored the Government’s commitment to the rights of children. 473. Trinidad and Tobago recognized that the thinking behind capital punishment and corporal punishment could not change overnight with the passing of a new law. It asked international partners to recognize that dialogue on these issues was ongoing and was the most powerful mechanism to change attitudes in the country. 474. Trinidad and Tobago had also received recommendations relating to the strengthening of national organizations to monitor the use of force by protective services, and these it had agreed to examine. As stated in its national report, the Police Complaints Authority was an independent body, operating free of political interference and headed by a former High Court judge. It was the main agency mandated to investigate and prosecute any instances of excessive use of force or corruption in relation to protective services. 475. Trinidad and Tobago had implemented other national security initiatives designed to address the issues concerning infractions of the law by protective services. The “Policing for the People” programme had been introduced to offer training with a view to improving modern-day policing. In November 2011, Trinidad and Tobago had also hosted the Third Regional Meeting of Ministers responsible for Public Security in the Americas. One of the key outcomes of the meeting had been technical capacity-building in the area of human rights and policing. 476. Trinidad and Tobago expressed its high regard for the work of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and for invitations to mandate holders in order to benefit from their technical expertise. This matter had engaged the active consideration of the current administration. 477. Trinidad and Tobago had also undertaken to examine very crucial issues concerning the discrimination of persons based on sexual orientation and/or HIV/AIDS status. Discrimination itself was not taken lightly in Trinidad and Tobago, and sexual orientation was a current and developing issue in the country. The attitudes of the people needed to change in order to address these issues adequately. 478. Trinidad and Tobago’s domestic legislation dealing with discrimination was being amended to include a person’s HIV/AIDS status as one of the recognized categories under which a person was protected from discrimination. This legislative recognition was not only necessary but also a first in the region. This “maverick” attitude towards the protection of 204 GE.13-14768