A/HRC/48/12 B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 35. During the interactive dialogue, 52 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 36. Senegal noted with satisfaction that Palau had demonstrated its commitment to human rights by ratifying many of the main international human rights instruments and that it had drawn up a policy and an action plan on climate change in favour of resilient development. 37. Serbia welcomed the efforts of Palau to implement the recommendations from the previous cycle of the universal periodic review, especially those on establishing national human rights institutions and mechanisms for reporting to the United Nations in the field of human rights. 38. Slovenia welcomed the “happy, healthy, sustainable and resilient Palauan communities in a changing world” vision of the Palau Climate Change Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low Emissions Development and the Palau Pledge,4 both of which aimed to ensure a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 39. Spain appreciated the efforts made by Palau to promote gender equality but noted that the legal framework was insufficient. Spain noted that, despite ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the adoption of targeted legislation, discrimination against persons with disabilities in the workplace had not been fully addressed. 40. The Sudan commended Palau for the efforts it had made, including for the establishment of a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up to engage with the international human rights mechanisms. 41. Timor-Leste highlighted the creation of a national human rights task force, the adoption of the Palau Climate Change Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low Emissions Development, the adoption of the National Gender Mainstreaming Policy for 2018–2023 and the reactivation of the Palau national youth congress. 42. Ukraine welcomed the National Gender Mainstreaming Policy and the efforts made in partnership with UNICEF to improve child protection. Ukraine highlighted the promising steps taken by Palau in combating human trafficking. 43. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized the progress made by Palau on human rights issues since its 2016 review, including in the field of domestic violence, with the criminalization of marital rape. It noted the continued efforts made to uphold democratic values through an independent media and an independent judiciary and the fight against corruption. 44. The United States of America commended Palau for regulating the conditions of employment of foreign workers and for acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It expressed concern, however, about forced labour and human trafficking for the purpose of sex, discrimination against foreign workers and the underreporting of rape and domestic violence. 45. Uruguay recognized the efforts made by Palau, including on strengthening the protection of children online. Uruguay was encouraged by the creation of the national human rights committee and by the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman. 46. Vanuatu, in its call for climate action, congratulated the Government of Palau for revising the national disaster risk management framework in 2016, as well as for preparing for and responding to natural disasters. 47. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomed the progress made to ratify international human rights instruments and the cooperation with UNICEF to establish a system for protecting children online. It also welcomed the national policies on persons with 4 6 See https://palaupledge.com/.