Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles |

Seychelles human rights report adopted at the UN Human Rights Council

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 24, 2016/APO/ --

Seychelles’ second cycle report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was adopted at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on the 24th of June, 2016. This follows Seychelles’ review under the UPR mechanism in January 2016, where Seychelles received 150 recommendations from 60 States, and is a demonstration of Seychelles’ continued support and cooperation with the UN’s human rights mechanisms, and willingness to have open and constructive dialogues on human rights issues.

During the session, Seychelles presented its positions on each recommendation, based on consultations held at the national level over the past months with relevant stakeholders from governmental agencies, civil society, judiciary and the National Assembly. Seychelles accepted 142 recommendations in view of implementing them, covering a myriad of issues such as the rights of the child, gender based violence, ratification of all core UN human rights instruments, strengthening our National Human Rights Institutions, and decriminalizing sodomy. Seychelles did not support eight recommendations regarding Seychelles’ ratification of international instruments and raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.  Seychelles will now have approximately four years until its third cycle under the UPR to implement the recommendations it has accepted.

Seychelles’ delegation was led by the Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Department, Ambassador Barry Faure, and was further composed of Ambassador Selby Pillay, Seychelles’ Permanent Representative to the UNOG based in Brussels, Ms Gayethri Murugaiyan from the Foreign Affairs Department and Ms Audrina Dine from Seychelles’ Mission in Geneva.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles.