A/HRC/48/12 75. Maldives took positive note of the progress Palau had made, especially the establishment of the national human rights committee, the adoption of the Palau Climate Change Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low Emissions Development and the establishment of the Severely Disabled Assistance Fund. 76. The Marshall Islands commended Palau for the ongoing initiatives to improve the child protection system and for programmes to support children and families. It welcomed the efforts made to enhance climate change adaptation and resilience, most notably through the Palau Climate Change Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low Emissions Development. 77. Mauritius applauded the Palau Climate Change Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low Emissions Development, which would enhance adaptation and resilience to the expected impacts of global climate change across all sectors. It made recommendations while understanding that Palau was a country with limited resources. 78. Mexico welcomed the measures taken to promote inclusive education for persons with disabilities, the establishment of the Anti-Human Trafficking Office and the adoption of a policy to address climate change. 79. Montenegro noted the actions taken by the Government and underlined several noteworthy achievements. Montenegro called for steps to be taken to improve the child protection system and reiterated its call for Palau to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Second Optional Protocol, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. 80. Morocco commended Palau for defending fundamental values relating to human rights, for the normative measures implemented to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights, for the progress made in favour of children’s rights and for the special attention given to the rights of persons with disabilities. 81. Nepal noted the efforts made by the Government to formulate legislation and the establishment of institutions for promoting and protecting human rights. Nepal welcomed the establishment of a task force to combat human trafficking and noted the national policies to improve opportunities for women in Palau. 82. The Netherlands commended Palau for its proactive role in engaging with treaty bodies and special procedures. It welcomed the development of the country plan aimed at improving opportunities for the women of Palau and noted that legislation aimed at combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity had not yet been enacted. 83. New Zealand acknowledged the progress made by Palau since the previous universal periodic review. New Zealand commended Palau for its efforts to support the rights of women, including through accession to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. 84. Pakistan appreciated the implementation of the National Gender Mainstreaming Policy to promote the equal participation of men and women in decision-making and to ensure a safe and secure environment at home and in the workplace. 85. Paraguay welcomed the accession of Palau to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Paraguay noted the establishment of the national human rights committee and encouraged the adoption of specific laws and policies to combat child labour. 86. Portugal welcomed the recent ratification by Palau of the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). 87. The Russian Federation regretted that Palau had not yet ratified a number of key international human rights instruments. 9