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37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on São Tomé and Príncipe

Rita French, UK Ambassador for Human Rights, delivered this statement on São Tomé and Príncipe at the 37th 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)
• Published: 27 January 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Thank you, Madam President,

The United Kingdom recognises São Tomé and Príncipe’s efforts to protect human rights through the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.

The UK commends São Tomé and Príncipe for the delivery of peaceful elections in 2018 and encourages a free and transparent electoral process in accordance with international human rights standards for the 2021 Presidential elections.

We recommend that São Tomé and Príncipe:

1. Eliminate all forms of child labour as set out under the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (C182) through the implementation of the National Action Plan.

2. Implement the commitment made at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to achieve zero unmet needs for family planning by 2030 and increase the prevalence of contraception from 41% to 50% as stated in 2019-2022 National FP Strategic Plan.

3. Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Thank you.

Published 27 January 2021