A/HRC/27/9 monitor the rights of the child, and its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto. 55. The Plurinational State of Bolivia commended Dominica for its detailed presentation and highlighted the progress made since the previous review. It commended Dominica for its ratification of a number of important international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 56. The head of delegation thanked States for their contributions and acknowledged that a national report would have responded to most of the concerns expressed. In particular, he recognized the contribution and support of members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). 57. Dominica was a small island developing State that faced severe challenges brought about by the hostile global economy and other institutional pressures. The country no longer received preferential treatment for the agricultural sector and was struggling with development. Those were the harsh realities that faced small island developing States. Dominica was also vulnerable to natural disasters, and had to deal with damage caused by severe weather every year. However, it had provided support to its people in order to ensure them a better quality of life. 58. Although much had been achieved, much remained to be done in terms of development. Some communities in Dominica still did not have access to safe drinking water and it had not been possible to make the necessary investments to ensure that potable water was available, particularly to small and rural communities. However, with assistance from the European Union and other development partners such as Venezuela and Cuba, every community in Dominica would have access to potable water by 2015. 59. The country continued to struggle to provide opportunities for children. However, significant progress in that regard had been made with the assistance of partners such as Morocco and Mexico. 60. Significant work had been undertaken to improve the lives of the people in the Carib Territory, in particular with regard to education. Dominica had done everything possible to ensure that indigenous people received the kind of attention that could improve their lives. 61. The Government was paying particular attention to violence against women. Although much remained to be done, the Government had provided protection through the Protection against Domestic Violence Act, passed in 2001, and through the provision of services, despite resource constraints. 62. Child labour was another area in which everything possible should be done to ensure that children were not forced to work. Dominica would definitely pay attention to the need to review the laws in order to protect children from hazardous work. 63. Although the use of corporal punishment had decreased, several associations in Dominica continued to criticize the Government for its rigorous guidelines on that matter. The Government’s view was that the country should move away from the use of corporal punishment as far as possible, and it would continue to work towards that goal. 64. Dominica provided support to persons with disabilities, although much remained to be done. The provision of such support was a work in progress, and was costly. 65. At times, the efforts made by small island developing States were greeted with hostility. The trade sector was one of the country’s biggest concerns since it had ceased to receive preferential treatment, especially in the European market. Under such circumstances, it was not easy to achieve economic development. Likewise, since 2008 the global economic crisis had affected Dominica and resulted in severe financial constraints. 10