Human Rights Council, 36th Session, Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

News:

Delivered by Charlotte Darlow, Acting Permanent Representative, 9 November 2020, Geneva, Switzerland

Madame President

New Zealand welcomes this opportunity for dialogue with the Republic of the Marshall Islands on its human rights record.

New Zealand welcomes the scoping work done by the Marshall Islands to determine the feasibility of establishing a National Human Rights Institution, and recommends that the Marshall Islands continue to advance this work.

New Zealand recommends that the Government increase efforts to investigate and prosecute people traffickers, and proactively adopt measures to identify and support victims of trafficking.

New Zealand recommends thatthe Marshall Islands approve comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation including protections from discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity.

New Zealand commends the Marshall Islands for the steps it has taken to improve gender equality, including the implementation of legislation and policies to ensure non-discrimination in employment, to promote women in leadership, as well as the introduction of legislation to better address the issue of violence against women and girls. We recommend that the Marshall Islands further develop policies and implement measures to reduce the violence against women and girls.

New Zealand recognises the progress the Republic of the Marshall Islands has made to protect the rights of people with disabilities, and recommends that the Marshall Islands continues to explore the proposal to introduce protections against discrimination under the constitution.

[New Zealand would like to acknowledge the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in its role as a member of the Human Rights Council since January 2020.]

Thank you Madame President.

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