A/HRC/57/10 relevant government actors, representatives of civil society, non-government organizations, chiefs, women’s and youth groups, and groups representing people with disabilities. 9. Vanuatu was committed to advancing the human rights and dignity of its people through national initiatives that conformed to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its commitment extended to upholding universal obligations, enhancing service delivery, strengthening the legal framework and building resilience in its communities. It sought to achieve progress in safeguarding the rights of all citizens, in particular groups in vulnerable situations such as women and girls, children and persons with disabilities. 10. Through legislative measures, policy reviews and strategic national planning, Vanuatu was implementing a results-oriented approach to drive positive change in communities. Over the previous four years, eight legislative reforms and amendments had been enacted and 10 policies and strategies had been developed to strengthen the human rights framework. 11. With respect to women, in 2021, the Government had launched the National Gender Equality Policy for 2020–2030. The policy outlined five strategic areas, namely: (a) eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls; (b) enhancing women’s economic empowerment and skills development; (c) advancing women’s leadership and political participation; (d) strengthening the foundation for gender mainstreaming; and (e) fostering gender-responsive and community-driven solutions to climate change and disaster resilience. Committees combating violence against women across all provinces served as focal points for women to address the five strategic areas. 12. Through the Disaster Risk Management Act, the Government had also launched standard operating procedures for the health sector to eradicate practices that prevented victims from receiving comprehensive health care and to ensure accountability among health-care providers. 13. The Family Protection Unit within the Vanuatu Police Force, established in 2019, was dedicated to addressing domestic violence cases, prosecuting offenders and assisting victims in applying for protection orders. The Family Protection Act had introduced Authorized Persons, who had the authority to issue temporary protection orders for persons who were victims of domestic violence, throughout Vanuatu. The 2022 Domestic Violence Action Plan equipped courts with the resources to support magistrates in handling and prioritizing domestic violence cases and provided for individuals to apply for protection orders on behalf of victims. Application and court fees were waived to ensure accessibility for all. 14. The delegation sought to clarify the concept of bride price and stated that the practice involved the exchange of gifts between the families of both parties to strengthen the bonds of marriage. The exchange was symbolic and was aimed at laying a firm foundation for the union, rather than serving as a payment. 15. Vanuatu had made significant strides in advancing children’s rights across various domains, in particular in addressing child protection issues within the formal justice system. Notable achievements included: (a) the prohibition of corporal punishment; (b) the establishment of a 24-hour helpline in 2023, and step-by-step assistance for children on accessing protection services; and (c) the recruitment of provincial child desk officers in all provinces to support the protection of children’s rights at the local level. New draft legislation to address child protection issues included the child protection bill, the adoption bill, the juvenile justice bill and the juvenile justice procedure bill, which were all to be tabled in Parliament in 2024. 16. To combat teenage marriage, the Government was reviewing the Control of Marriage Act to raise the minimum age for marriage from 18 years for males and 16 years for females. Birth registration rates had reached a minimum of 80 per cent in recent years as a result of various initiatives, including the integration of birth registration processes into school enrolment and at hospitals prior to discharge. 17. Vanuatu was implementing the National Disability-Inclusive Development Policy, which encompassed the principles of respect, shared responsibility, autonomy, equality of opportunity, non-discrimination and embracing of Melanesian and religious values. In 2024, the Government had launched the Medical Disability Registry Database to register all persons GE.24-09741 3