Position OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, SAMOA Samoa’s Second Universal Periodic Review Implementation Comments 73.30.Conduct awareness-raising activities to change socio-cultural practices and stereotypes that impinge on gender equality (Argentina); Supported Implemented Samoa conducts a range of awareness-raising activities related to gender equality, led by MWCSD. The NHRI will also engage in these activities in its forward work program. 73.40.Seek to enhance its programmes on human rights education and training in schools and for public officials, in cooperation with the international community (Philippines); Supported Implemented The NHRI is delivering a program of human rights education and training for public officials and is engaging with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture to include further human rights materials in the school curriculum. Supported Unable to comment Defer to Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations’ UPR submission. Supported Unable to comment See comment 73.42. Recommendation Human rights education and training Context, statistics budget, cooperation with civil society 73.42.Involve civil society organizations in the follow-up to this review (United Kingdom). 74.29.Use the UPR process to better involve civil society for further promotion and protection of human rights in Samoa (Hungary); Non-discrimination 74.10.Further enhance national policies to promote the rights of women (Philippines); Supported Implemented See report paras [12] – [16]. 74.11.Design specific policies to improve the situation of women in Samoan society and political life (Spain); 74.28.Enhance the rights of women regarding civic participation (Turkey); Supported Implemented See report paras [12] – [13]. Supported Implemented See comment 74.11. 75.28.Take measures to reduce gender imbalance in the legislative and executive branches of Government (Norway); Supported (See para. 18 addendum p. 4) Implemented See comment 74.11. 74.27.Continue to guarantee freedom of religion and to ensure the preservation and promotion of the cultural characteristics and distinctness of “fa’asomoa” (Indonesia); Supported Partly implemented See report paras [7] – [11] and [35]. 25