A/HRC/19/7 25. It was also stated that the Government recognized that, as in any society, women fell victim to domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of emotional and verbal abuse. Accordingly, in addition to specific legislation covering many of these offences, women were also protected under the Sexual Offences Act, 1986. 26. Trinidad and Tobago had adopted and strengthened its policies to promote the better integration of differently abled persons into society while preserving their independence and dignity. A Disability Affairs Unit and a National Coordinating Committee on Disability were established and functioning. Moreover, a Draft National Policy on Persons with Disabilities and a Draft Disabilities Bill are under consideration. 27. Trinidad and Tobago also referred to the Government’s initiative to improve the standard of living of the differently abled, the availability of fully-funded home care and assistance from health care professionals. Additionally, special provision had been made for the integration of children living with disabilities into the educational system. 28. Trinidad and Tobago stated that the Government regarded the protection of the human rights of its children as an extremely serious matter and strongly believed that children were not mini-human beings with mini-human rights. Thus, along with various programmes, grants and activities geared towards child development, the Children’s Life Fund with the accompanying legislation, the Children’s Life Fund Act, 2010, have been established. 29. Trinidad and Tobago noted that, while the defence of the rights of children was an ongoing national concern, society in the country had traditionally practised corporal punishment as a legitimate form of discipline for youngsters. It was added that this was of concern to the Government and that practical steps had been taken to reverse it. The Ministry of Education, in its National School Code of Conduct, May 2009, specifically forbade the use of corporal punishment. 30. Moreover it was indicated that currently, the Children’s Bill 2011 was being considered by the Cabinet as a preparatory step to having it laid in Parliament. This Bill would address the sale of children, child pornography, and child prostitution. Additionally, under the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011, child pornography was a form of criminal exploitation. 31. Trinidad and Tobago noted that, as a small island developing State, it was cognizant of the distinct link between global climate change and human rights. Thus, with financial assistance from the European Union, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management had produced a National Response Framework related to the management of natural disasters compatible with the Hyogo Framework for Action. 32. Trinidad and Tobago further indicated that the Ministry of the Attorney General in conjunction with the Equal Opportunities Commission was in the process of developing a nationwide human rights awareness campaign. A feasibility study was conducted to determine the most effective mechanism to reach the widest demographic by the International Law and Human Rights Unit of the Ministry. 33. It was highlighted that two specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) towards which Trinidad and Tobago had made significant progress were the reduction of extreme poverty and surpassing the target for universal primary education, with citizens now benefiting from free preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary education. Trinidad and Tobago declared nevertheless that it is conscious of the challenges that remain. It must be borne in mind that national capacity to fully implement certain human rights obligations were constrained by increased pressure on available national resources. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago therefore wished to express its appreciation to its international partners for their support for national development initiatives. 6