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Human Rights Council – Universal Periodic Review

For use of information media; not an official record

Date: Monday 24 January 2011 (Morning)

Country under review: NAURU

Documents: National Report A/HRC/WG.6/10/NRU/1 and Corr.1, Compilation of UN information A/HRC/WG.6/10/NRU/2, Summary of Stakeholders’ information A/HRC/WG.6/10/NRU/3

Troika: HUNGARY, MALAYSIA, SWITZERLAND

Concerned country - national report

  • Represented by a 4-member delegation and headed by Mathew Batsiua, Minister for Health, Justice and Sports
  • National report presented by the head of delegation

Highlights

  • February 2010 referendum rejected the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Nauru. Failure reviewed by the Constitutional Review Committee.
  • Lifting of the state of emergency on 1 November 2010.
  • Current revision of the Criminal Code -with the assistance of Australian Government.
  • National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) reviewed and revised in 2009 to achieve transparency and accountability of public service.
  • Compulsory and free education.
  • Financial assistance to senior citizens and persons with disabilities provided.
  • Ratification of human rights treaties entails human and financial resources not available to Nauru
  • Negative impacts  of climate change on Nauru and overall negative impact of environmental pollution on the people of Nauru

Interactive discussion
Number of States taking part in the discussion

  • Member States: 16
  • Observer States: 14

Positive achievements

  • Efforts to help vulnerable groups
  • Promotion and protection of the rights of women
  • Right to education ensured and quality of education provided
  • Improvement of the human rights situation in the country.
  • Adoption of Law on Protection of Environment.
  • Efforts to eliminate Domestic Violence and ensure increased political participation of women
  • Establishment of ‘Safe House’ for the victims of domestic violence and establishment of National Action Plan on Women
  • Nauru’s participation in various regional mechanisms and cooperation with international mechanisms

Issues and questions raised

  • Exploitation of natural resources
  • Detailed information regarding legislative projects and workshops relating to awareness raising
  • Assistance to be provided by international community and OHCHR
  • The way in which the government guarantees the rights enshrined in Universal Declaration of HR

Recommendations

  • Consider the ratification and implementation of Convention on elimination of  discrimination against women, CEDAW
  • Ratify ICCPR, CAT and the optional protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography;
  • Abolish capital punishment
  • Consider positive response to Working group on arbitrary detention
  • Increase cooperation with relevant UN bodies and regional/international organizations with a view to decreasing the harmful effects of climate change
  • Review related laws to provide for a better protection and promotion of women’s rights
  • Ensure the rights of Asylum seekers and refugees
  • NSDS to should consider the role of women in national development, including their participation in the political process
  • Develop a human rights-based strategy on the fight against the effects of climate change

Response of the concerned country

  • Policies on domestic violence implemented and involving various departments, inter alia, police, health, women’s rights institutions.
  • Domestic violence should be addressed under separate chapter in the new criminal code.
  • Aware of the importance of adopting a human rights-based environmental programme.
  • Lack of resource to comply with all reporting obligations emanating from ratification of instruments.
  • Giving a prior sit for women in public services and addressing this lack in Public services.
  • Lack of women representation political representation is being addressed and priority of the authorities
  • Efforts are being made to ensure the access to rights and services of rights of persons with disability.
  • Engaging more and more with the civil society
  • Same sex activities would remain illegal

Adoption of the report by the UPR working group scheduled on
Wednesday 26 January, 12:00 – 12:30

More information