Universal Periodic Review 33: Dominica
The UK welcomes Dominica’s commitment to ensuring freedom of the media, though note that defamation remains a criminal offence.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place in Geneva.
The UK thanks Dominica for its continued commitment to the UPR process despite the challenges faced following the devastating effects of natural disasters, most recently from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
We welcome Dominica’s commitment to ensuring freedom of the media, though note that defamation remains a criminal offence. We would encourage Dominica to decriminalise defamation and place it under the Civil Code, in accordance with international standards. We also note the significant strides made in the protection of women and children, and encourage Dominica to endorse the ‘Call to Action to End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking’.
We welcome Dominica’s vote of support for the UN resolution on the ‘Moratorium on the use of the death penalty’, and encourage the Government to establish a formal moratorium on executions with a view to eventually abolishing the death penalty.
We recommend:
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Repealing all legal provisions which discriminate against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity, including relevant language in the Sexual Offences Act.
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Adopting an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.
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Ratifying and implementing the International Labour Organisation’s 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (P029).
Thank you, Mr President.