Speech

43rd Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Barbados

The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Simon Manley, delivered a statement at Barbados’s UPR at the Human Rights Council.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Simon Manley CMG
• Published: 5 May 2023

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

• Location: Geneva
• Delivered on: 5 May 2023 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Let me start by warmly welcoming the Honourable Minister and his delegation from both Bridgetown and Geneva, and thank him for his presentation this morning.

And let me congratulate Barbados for its recent publication of the Barbados Charter, which reaffirmed rights and freedoms for all.

We also commend Barbados for its abolition of the mandatory death sentence, which the Minister just mentioned, and we encourage the Government to take steps towards full abolition of capital punishment. We also welcome the recent ruling by the Barbados High Court decriminalising consensual same-sex activity, again mentioned by the Minister.

We recommend Barbados:

1. Ensure the Constitution guarantees the rights of marginalised groups, including the LGBTQI+ community.

2. Ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

3. Implement a comprehensive approach to reduce and end gender-based violence including domestic violence perpetrated against women and girls.

Thank you.

Published 5 May 2023