A/HRC/46/34/Add.1 34. The Special Rapporteur was also informed about an ongoing project aiming to inventory and compile the diverse dialects of the Tuvaluan language, including its variations across the islands. The aim would be to strengthen its teaching and raise awareness of its richness. She hopes the project will be afforded the necessary resources to continue and would welcome receiving more information about it. 35. Education is closely related to the enjoyment of cultural rights by all without discrimination. Increasing the transmission of knowledge to younger generations and exposing them to a diversity of disciplines, points of view, material and experiences is vital to allowing them to achieve their potential. As stressed by the mandate holders in the field of cultural rights in previous reports, education should aim to instil a spirit of scientific inquiry, promote civic engagement and critical thinking and foster discussion about the representation of the past, but equally of contemporary challenges. 12 1. Non discrimination 36. Celebrating diversity also implies providing the necessary conditions for it to be expressed, in public and in private, without any discrimination. The Special Rapporteur was informed that certain activities had been banned on Sundays for religious reasons, and she noted with concern information received concerning impediments to the enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief by members of religious minorities on the outer islands and the fact that they were sometimes perceived as being cultural outsiders and discouraged from holding meetings or proselytizing. While acknowledging that the Government is trying to promote religious tolerance in general, members of religious minorities report that the message is not being communicated effectively to the outer islands. The Special Rapporteur hopes that this will be addressed through further human rights education about the importance of non-discrimination in this regard. 37. Although Tuvalu is party to various international human rights instruments guaranteeing equal rights for women, persons with disabilities and children, the principle of equality between women and men and guarantees of non-discrimination on the grounds of gender, disability, age and birth are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. The Special Rapporteur refers the Government to the concluding observations of the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies13 and strongly encourages it to take the necessary steps to amend the Constitution and laws to explicitly include such norms, consistent with its international obligations. 2. Women 38. Since the most recent review of the country’s implementation of its international obligations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in 2015, important efforts have been made by the authorities to address discrimination against women, including through the adoption of the Family Protection and Domestic Violence Act of 2014 and the national gender policy and action plan. The Special Rapporteur was also informed that educational opportunities for girls had improved. 39. However, challenges remain that need to be addressed as a matter of priority, including in terms of the participation of women in decision-making at all levels, their political representation and traditional attitudes about their roles in society. Although some women pastors have been accepted by the Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu, which is a very positive development, some people reportedly remain reluctant to have women lead congregations. More work still needs to be done to: (a) change discriminatory cultural attitudes towards women; (b) empower them to take a more vocal role in society; and (c) free them from pressure to conform to stereotypical roles. Until meaningful equality can be achieved, temporary special measures should be considered and recognized as a positive step for all Tuvaluans. 12 13 For more about the importance of such educational aims, see in particular , A/68/296; A/HRC/20/26, para. 27; and A/HRC/25/49. See also www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/CulturalRights/Pages/HistoricalMemorialNarratives.aspx. See CEDAW/C/TUV/CO/3-4 and CRC/C/TUV/CO/1. 9