UPR Info

Free comprehensive health care for life and free education for the nation's children up to 14 years of age (a far-sighted policy dating back to 1875) points to a progressive domestic realisation of the rights set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) even though the Kingdom has not ratified this treaty. The development of these policies was accompanied by clear and attainable targets that have been monitored and evaluated on the way forward

The Government provides compulsory and free primary schools. There needs to be a system of checks to ensure that all children are allowed to go to school. Legislation provides that parents can be taken to court and charged if proved that they purposely hold their children from school. Due to financial constraints, some families may prefer boys go to school whilst girls are 'educated' at home. This practice is fast becoming extinct and education statistics have shown higher number of girls obtaining scholarships in past years. Primary, Secondary, Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Tertiary Institutions are highly subsidized by Government through provision of Teacher salaries, free equipment and other teaching materials.

The Government provides free access to health and medical services. To alleviate capacity constraints and improve services available, the government facilitates partnerships with both Taiwan and Australia for specialized medical teams to visit and provide specialized medical services. There is a team of Cuban doctors permanently based in Tarawa. The Government also continues to approve increased scholarship allocations for medical and nursing training overseas, mainly in Australia and Cuba.

It is the constitutional mandate of the Attorney-General's Office to provide legal advice and service to the Government. Also provided under the Constitution is the Government's recognition of the right of the people to legal services, and is obliged to take every step reasonable and necessary to provide said services. Consequently, for indigent people who cannot afford legal representation, free legal access is provided by the Public Defender's Office and the Micronesian Legal Services Office.

The Education Act states that the Nitijela declares and recognizes the right of the people to education and the Government's obligation to take every step reasonable and necessary to provide this service as per the Constitution. The compulsory ages of school attendance is 4-18 years old. It is the Government's policy that the goal of its educational system is to foster self-reliance. In addition to free education, transportation and meals are also provided by the Government. 44. In renegotiating the Compact of Free Association with the United States, the RMI Government had maintained that one of its priority areas was education. Since the amended Compact came into effect, the Government has built approximately 200 newly constructed and repaired classrooms throughout the country utilizing Compact public infrastructure funding.

To share with the public sector and with civil society the recommendations and voluntary commitments from the second universal periodic review

Although there are no cases of torture in the Kingdom, Bahrain's steadfast desire to enhance the professionalism of law enforcement personnel has prompted it to ask the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for assistance in developing and improving human rights curricula and training courses.

Sri Lanka has commenced work on drafting a constitutional charter on human rights that will strengthen the human rights protection framework in the country and bring Sri Lanka's constitutional human rights guarantees in line with its international obligations. The process includes engaging in consultations with civil society. The draft charter and the process of consultation will foster a national discourse on human rights.

Finally, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania takes this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to the ideals and principles enshrined in the international legal instruments to which it is a party and its determination to contribute, as a member of the Human Rights Council, to efforts to promote and protect human rights internationally and in Arab and African countries.

Solomon Islands further stated that it had recently sent an invitation to the OHCHR Regional Office for an in-country assessment for the purpose of establishing an office in Solomon Islands.

The Tongan Government believes that social, economic and cultural rights are important. It is fully committed to a vigorous development of Tonga's economic, social and cultural goals. It has consistently pursued a progressive agenda on social, economic and cultural policy and can point to the practical strategies of SDP8 and increased funding for education and healthcare as evidence of its commitment

Legal procedures have been instituted with a view to enacting a new law on private sector employment to replace the current legislation and to introduce a statutory minimum wage, which will be subject to regular review, and also to restructure the labour market in order to balance the freedom to change jobs with the protection of employers' interests.

China is committed to carrying out exchanges and cooperation on human rights with all countries, and to promoting the resolution of human rights issues in a fair, objective and non-selective manner by the international community.

Bahrain will also explore the possibility of obtaining appropriate technical assistance to strengthen national implementation of the Convention [on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination].

It will liaise with the President of the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the possible organization of visits that might prove useful for the purposes of discussions and consultations.

It has asked the Human Rights Council for technical assistance to help it run human rights training courses and workshops for law enforcement personnel and members of the Prosecution Service and the judiciary.

To share the Ecuadorian experience and provide interested countries with assistance relating to its programmes in the field of inclusion of persons with disabilities

The Congo reiterates its commitment to cooperate with all United Nations bodies in general, and with those of the Human Rights Council in particular.

Under the Constitution, the Government recognizes the right of the people to health services, and its obligation to take every step reasonable and necessary to provide said services with the health care system including 2 hospitals in the urban centers and 58 health centers in the outer islands. The Government therefore provides free medical services to its people. Where these services cannot be provided, there are referral programs for patients to Honolulu, Philippines, and Taiwan. In renegotiating the Compact of Free Association with the United States, the RMI Government had maintained that one of its priority areas was health. From the Fiscal Year 2004 through 2009, one (1) new Health Center was constructed including five (5) maintenance projects for 46 outer island dispensaries using Compact public infrastructure funding. Planning already initiated for a new hospital in Majuro, and the hospital redevelopment project for the new hospital aims for ground breaking in early 2011.

Share, with States that request it, the experiences of the National Human Rights System, the comprehensive monitoring system for international recommendations on human rights (SISREDH) and the monitoring mechanism of the universal periodic review, in the framework of international cooperation.

Cooperate and meet its obligations in the area of human rights with the United Nations agencies, mechanisms and committees in order to facilitate their activities and the implementation of their programmes

Continue the adoption of measures required for the protection of human rights defenders in Colombia

Continue to participate actively in follow-up to the proceedings of relevant conferences, including the forthcoming review of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.

To continue to develop domestic legislation for further protection of the rights of the child

Poland will continue to participate in the World Programme for Human Rights Education, within the first stage of which education on human rights has been introduced into the core curricula of general education at primary and middle schools. Moreover, the Ministry of National Education has launched a number of other measures to promote education on human rights and the rights of child. Training to prepare activities for the advancement of human rights and combating discrimination in local communities has been carried out under numerous projects

To continue to develop a gender-responsive approach to issues on women and children, including in the judicial system and on violence against women and children

Continue to discharge its obligations to submit, under the international legal instruments to which it was a party, initial and periodic reports to the respective treaty-monitoring bodies and to implement the recommendations of those bodies

As a part of its commitment to guarantee civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights of its people, Sri Lanka will continue to align its development strategy within the larger framework of promoting local values and social protection for women, children, elderly and differently-abled people and other vulnerable groups in society and respect for human rights and good governance

Sri Lanka will continue its active and constructive dialogue and cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen national mechanisms in all aspects.

Sri Lanka will continue its efforts to strengthen its national mechanisms and procedures to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens through the adoption and implementation of the proposed National Plan of Action which will set targets to be achieved during the five years commencing 2009, facilitate a holistic approach to human rights protection and promotion and lead to greater cooperation between Government and civil society