39th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Samoa

The UK delivered the statement on Samoa at the 39th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

From:

UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)

Thank you, Madam President.

The United Kingdom welcomes Samoa’s ongoing engagement with the UPR process. This engagement includes fully implementing recommendations from the 2016 UPR, such as

ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and acceding to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The UK also welcomes Samoa’s work on media freedom including with partner agencies of UNESCO and the Journalism Association of Western Samoa and we encourage the government to consider joining the Media Freedom Coalition. The UK commends Samoa on promoting and protecting human rights more widely including through the establishment of the National Mechanism for the Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up Taskforce.

The UK recommends that Samoa:

1. Ratify Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, before its next review;

2. Review the Mental Health Act of 2007 to ensure it fully complies with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure it is enforced by providing adequate resources and training;

3. Take action to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against women and girls by continuing to effectively implement the District Development Plan from 2017 and the findings from the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development’s awareness programme in January 2021 on gender-based violence and alcohol abuse.

Thank you.