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Human Rights Council – Universal Periodic Review

For use of information media; not an official record

Date: Wednesday 10 February (afternoon)

Country under review: BOLIVIA, PLURINATIONAL STATE OF

Concerned country - national report

  • Represented by a 6-person delegation and headed by the Minister for Institutional Transparency and Combating Corruption, H.E. Mrs. Nardy Suxo
  • National report presented by H.E. Mrs. Nardy Suxo

Highlights

  • Political participation of all sectors of society (women make up 50% of the Ministerial Cabinet, Afro-descendent and disabled people elected to the Parliament).
  • Initiated modernization of the judiciary.
  • Establishment of the Ministry for Institutional Transparency and Combating Corruption and draft law to combat corruption.
  • Draft Law on Prevention and Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
  • Ratified most major international human rights treaties.
  • Developed a National Human Rights Action Plan.
  • Programmes to eradicate illiteracy and improve the quality of education.
  • Universal Health Insurance.
  • Standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council.

Interactive discussion

Number of States taking part in the interactive discussion

  • Member States: 24
  • Observer States: 29

Positive achievements

  • New Constitution which entails a broader protection of human rights and prohibits discrimination.
  • Peaceful and transparent elections.
  • Election of the highest judicial authorities through universal suffrage.
  • Steps taken to protect rights of indigenous peoples.
  • Measures to fight maternal mortality.

Issues and questions raised

  • High prevalence of violence against women.
  • Discrimination against women.
  • Independence and efficiency of judiciary.
  • Child labour, juvenile justice.
  • Threats and intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders.
  • Corruption.
  • Social, political and economic exclusion of indigenous people and migrants.
  • Extreme poverty, especially in rural areas.
  • Prison conditions.

Recommendations

  • Take all necessary measures to protect the rights of women and children, in particular regarding trafficking, sexual exploitation and domestic violence.
  • Eradicate impunity for human rights violations.
  • Promote judicial independence.
  • Ensure that traditional indigenous justice system complies with international human rights standards and guarantees the right to appeal.
  • Support an independent and diverse media.
  • Develop a national strategy for human rights education.
  • Take legal steps to include the provisions of the Convention Against torture into domestic legislation.

Response of the concerned country

  • Rights of indigenous peoples – Rights guaranteed by the Constitution; landowner titles handed over to indigenous communities; efforts made to eradicate forced labour.
  • Judiciary system – Depolitization of the judiciary is an ongoing process; first priority is to establish a framework to guarantee its independence.
  • Gender equality – Programmes have been developed together with civil society actors to combat gender based violence; initiative is taken to review the criminal code in this respect.
  • Freedom of the press – Freedom of opinion guaranteed by the Constitution. Measures taken to protect media, regardless of their affiliations. Ongoing investigations on cases of media encouraging racism and discrimination.
  • Corruption –Public policy of transparency. Bolivia among the first countries to have volunteered to comply with the Convention Against Corruption.

Adoption of the report by the UPR working group scheduled on
Friday 12 February, 17:30 – 18:00

More information

Country under review (documents submitted): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/BOSession7.aspx