A/HRC/24/8 49. Tuvalu reiterated its commitment with the special procedures and specifically acknowledged the assistance that Tuvalu could get from the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. 50. With reference to the country laws and traditional practices, which seemed to be in conflict with international law, that was a matter which continued consultations between the relevant authorities and the traditional assemblies on each island. 51. The Religious Organizations Restrictions Act was the Government’s first attempt to facilitate dialogue between people who wanted to exercise freedom of religion and the country’s traditional practices. It was the first law forbidding island communities from stopping anyone from sharing religious beliefs. The starting point of the law was to allow people to come in and explain and share their religious beliefs. Consultations were continuing, not just on religion but also on women’s issues, between traditional leaders, decision makers, relevant government authorities, non-governmental organizations and civil society. 52. Viet Nam noted the remarkable progress made by Tuvalu since its first UPR in ensuring that human rights were included in national legislation. It highlighted the drafting and implementation of several important acts, such as on Constitutional amendment, the Leadership Code, police powers and duties, public enterprises and environmental protection. As a developing country, Viet Nam shared the constraints and challenges faced by Tuvalu in implementing its human rights obligations. It called upon the international community to support Tuvalu. It made recommendations. 53. Algeria, while acknowledging the challenges facing Tuvalu, noted the positive developments since its previous review, particularly the inclusion of international human rights standards into national legislation; measures in favour of persons with disabilities; and the adoption of the National Women’s Policy, the draft National Youth Policy and the Family Protection and Domestic Violence Bill. It echoed the request for technical and financial assistance to implement the country’s national priorities. Algeria made recommendations. 54. Australia commended the Police Service Act and the Police Powers and Duties Act and noted that changes to police legislation aligned with the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (ICESCR). It was concerned about the delay in setting a date for a by-election in the electorate of Nukufetau and urged elections to be held to ensure representation of all Tuvaluans in Parliament. Australia acknowledged progress on gender equality and welcomed the engagement with the International Criminal Court. Australia made recommendations. 55. Azerbaijan congratulated the cooperation of Tuvalu with United Nations mechanisms and welcomed its readiness to accede to the core international human rights treaties. It noted efforts to ensure gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment and to combat domestic violence, as well as the adoption of the Police Powers and Duties Act. It was aware of the constraints faced by Tuvalu in the promotion and protection of human rights and the negative impact of climate change, and highlighted the need for support on the implementation of its human rights obligations. Azerbaijan made recommendations. 56. Brazil expressed appreciation for Tuvalu’s commitment to the establishment of a national human rights institution; its openness to cooperation with its international partners in the sphere of human rights; its achievements in awareness-raising; and the impressive work carried out by the People’s Lawyers Office in the field of access to justice. All such advances were a token of the unswerving commitment of Tuvalu to human rights, despite the social, economic and environmental challenges faced. Brazil made recommendations. 9