UPR Info

Cooperate and meet its obligations in the area of human rights with the United Nations agencies, mechanisms and committees in order to facilitate their activities and the implementation of their programmes

Enact the bill concerning persons with disabilities and the information bill.

Fulfil its obligations arising from accession to the Convention against Torture, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Continue efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those that have a bearing on human rights

Make comprehensive efforts at the national level to protect the rights of workers by taking the necessary institutional and legislative steps

Raise the level of political awareness and disseminate a culture of political participation

Develop the operational mechanisms of human rights commissions and agencies in accordance with the best international standards

Regarding the legal services in the hinterland, Guyana had expanded those services and had committed to continue to work on that issue

Replying to the advance questions and recommendations made regarding enforcement of the practice of flogging and of the death penalty, Maldives wished to ensure all partners that it remained committed to strengthening the legislative and judicial framework involved in cases of flogging, informed them that the Government remained dedicated to further strengthening those systems and processes and looked forward to any kind of support from partners. Similarly, with regard to the enforcement of the death penalty, Maldives stated that such punishment would not be resorted to unless it was endorsed by all court tiers and was in line with all regulations and procedures

The Government is committed to ensuring that access to medical services is ensured, through the availability of General Practitioner Services throughout Maldives. In this regard, work is underway to develop an electronic GP registration and Patient Record Archiving System, which would facilitate in-patient identification, birth and death registration, as well as substantiate access to healthcare and universal health coverage. Birth registration has been made possible, for everyone across the country since 1960s.

The Government is committed to ensuring a rapid and efficient transition to a two tier government under which county governments will assume full responsibility of the functions assigned to them under the constitution.

Kuwait remained firmly committed to submitting its periodic reports to treaty bodies

The Government is committed to addressing issues for people with disabilities, for example by providing easy access through the Class Rehabilitation Program that includes ramp access for children with disabilities.

The United States is firmly committed to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to incorporate environmental considerations in their planning and decision-making processes. The President's Climate Action Plan has committed to cut carbon pollution and other greenhouse emissions, promote renewable energy development and use, cut waste in homes, businesses, and factories, conserve land and water resources, use sound science to manage climate impacts, launch a climate resilience toolkit and climate data initiative, and actively engage in international efforts to address global climate change.

Notwithstanding these achievements, the Government recognises the enormous challenges that the country face, and remains committed in advancing the rights and welfare of the people, with a particular focus on reducing inequality, empowering youth, and furthering socio-economic progress. The Maldives is highly prone to the unique posed by its small size, geographic dispersion, and climate change. These challenges remain significant hindrances in the country's progress towards full consolidation of democracy, a progress that is often punctuated by structural deficiencies, lack of capacity, and technical expertise

The Republic of Liberia is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of vulnerable groups including, but not limited to, women, children, the elderly, refugees, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and LGBTI persons. The Agenda for Transformation and the National Human Rights Action Plan both make provisions for the protection of vulnerable groups as an area of national priority. The Government has also established and supported a number of ministries and agencies dedicated to addressing the interests of vulnerable groups, including the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Liberian Refugee, Repatriation, and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), the National Commission on Disabilities, and the National AIDS Commission (NAC).

The United States has an unwavering commitment to respect the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their immigration status, and vigorously prosecutes crimes committed against migrants and enforces labor, workplace safety, and civil rights laws. All children have the right to equal access to public elementary and secondary education, regardless of their or their parents' immigration status, and such schools must provide meaningful access to their programs to persons with limited English proficiency, including migrants. In January 2015, we issued guidance to help schools ensure that English learner students can participate meaningfully and equally in education programs and services. Employers may not discriminate against employees or applicants based on their race, color, national origin, or, in certain cases, citizenship status.

We are committed to equality of opportunity in education and to helping students succeed in school, careers, and life. To help increase educational excellence, support innovation and improvement, and address continuing challenges, ED has dedicated well over $1 billion to early childhood education, and also has launched a number of other programs and initiatives, including the Excellent Educators for All Initiative in July 2014, which directs states to submit plans in 2015 to help ensure that poor and minority children have equal access to experienced, qualified teachers. Also in 2014, we issued guidance to states, school districts, and schools to help ensure that students have equal access to educational resources, and launched the Performance Partnership Pilots program to test innovative, outcome-focused strategies for achieving significant improvements in educational, employment, and other key outcomes for disconnected youth.

On the issue of trafficking, measures had been taken to ensure the adequate care of victims in the context of judicial proceedings. Also, the number of specialized trainings had increased for staff in the police, the prosecutors' offices, the judiciary, the migration office and the health and education ministries. The delegation committed itself to the prompt adoption of the regulation implementing Law 79/2011, to the provision of a budget to the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons and to the building of a shelter for victims of human trafficking, in accordance with international standards

The delegation reiterated that torture was a subject of serious concern in Mongolia and acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2011 was one of many efforts by the Government to abolish all torture cases in the country. There were a total of 14 cases of torture recorded, and as of 2014 two cases had been addressed. Furthermore, the delegation reiterated Mongolia's commitment to incorporating the subject of torture in the educational programme curricular. This provision of torture had already been included for law enforcement officers, however, the curricular for prosecutors should also include the subject of torture.

Turkey's commitment to expanding the scope of fundamental rights and freedoms as well as upholding democracy and the rule of law continued unabated.

While the HRCM continues to face criticism regarding its role in the institutional framework, primarily due to lack of awareness about the mandate and activities of the Commission, the Government is committed to working constructively with the HRCM, even in cases where both parties may not agree.

We are committed to expanding access to health care to all our citizens and as such, have made efforts to strengthen and protect our social and health care programs: Medicare for the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid for low-income individuals and families. Under the ACA, Medicare beneficiaries have saved billions of dollars on prescription drugs and have seen no increase in rates since 2013. Additionally, Medicare beneficiaries no longer have to pay cost-sharing for preventive services, and nearly nine million individuals have enrolled in coverage in state-run Medicaid programs since October 2013.

The delegation reiterated the firm commitment of Kyrgyzstan to improving the human rights protection system and ensuring the compliance of national law with the international human rights system.

Enhancing food security by improving agricultural productivity and introducing high value cash crops, better farm management practices, irrigation and water harvesting.

The delegation emphasized the commitment of the Libyan Government to work on the implementation of all accepted recommendations and called for the establishment of a genuine partnership with all international organizations and civil society organizations that were interested in the realization and promotion of human rights and rule of law in Libya.

The Maldives is committed to eliminate the menace of human trafficking in the Maldives. The Maldives ratified its first legislations criminalizing trafficking in persons in 2013. The Government is working closely with international partners such as the International Organisation for Migration to implement policies and measures as well as in providing adequate trainings and awareness campaigns on the issue of trafficking. It is with this commitment that the Parliament accelerated in passing the Protocol to prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children from Parliament in April this year. The Government is hopeful to complete the process of acceding to the Protocol in due course.

The delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic reiterated the commitment of the Government to maintaining equality, justice and the rule of law.

Regarding refugees, the National Assembly passed Law 74/2013 permitting refugees to apply for residence after three years of living on Panamanian soil. The Government has also improved the process for determining refugee status so that it is in accordance with international standards. In addition, the delegation committed itself to the prompt adoption of a decree regulating the mechanism to determine statelessness.

Guyana had voluntarily committed to hold consultations on 28 of the 55 recommendations. Those included recommendations on the abolition of the death penalty, on the abolition of corporal punishment, on the decriminalization of consensual same-sex adult sexual relations and on discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, and on the age of criminality.