Palau, PNG, Samoa & Solomon Islands get human rights review

The international community has, thought the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council, identified a number of human rights issues faced by people in Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands. During last week, the four Pacific Island States were examined by the UPR for the first time based on their human rights record.

Matilda Bogner, Regional representative of OHCHR’s Regional Office for the Pacific, said:

“Through the UPR, Pacific Island States have had a great opportunity to discuss their human rights situations with the international community. We are looking forward to see Palau, Solomon Islands, Samoa and PNG living up to the recommendations that were made, and OHCHR’s Regional office is ready to provide assistance to the countries when implementing the recommendations.”

Recommendations for these countries included: Increased ratification of Human Rights Treaties and Conventions (Palau, Samoa, PNG); to take measures to combat violence against women (all countries); to enact legislation to protect children from child labor and sexual exploitation (Palau, Solomon Islands); to take measures to combat human trafficking (Palau, Solomon Islands, and PNG); to establish a National Human Rights Institution in compliance with the Paris Principles (Palau, Samoa, PNG); and to take measures to prohibit all forms of corporal punishment (all countries).

Palau was reviewed on 3 May, Solomon Islands on 4 May, Samoa on 9 May and PNG on 11 May. The UPR is one of the key elements of the Human Rights Council, which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.

The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council itself. It is a cooperative process which, by 2011, will have reviewed the human rights records of every country. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists.

ENDS