Human Rights Council: 43rd Session of the Universal Periodic Review, Tonga

Mr President,

New Zealand warmly welcomes the delegation from the Kingdom of Tonga and commends Tonga’s on-going commitment to the advancement of human rights.

We recommend that Tonga:

1. Ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
2. Ratifies the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
3. Amends existing legislation that discriminates against LGBTQI+ persons, including amending the Criminal Offences Act to decriminalise consensual same sex activities.
4. Establishes a National Human Rights Institution in line with the Paris Principles.
5. Establishes a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, as a first step towards the complete abolition of this practice.

We wish Tonga all the best for its review.

Thank you Mr President.