36th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on the Marshall Islands

Thank you Madam President.

The United Kingdom appreciates the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ continued participation in the UPR process.

We applaud the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ work to address human rights risks posed by climate change driven threats, including through the “Lighting the Way” climate strategy. We also welcome the Marshall Islands’ accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Descrimination.

We congratulate the Marshall Islands on its steps to tackle discrimination against women through the Gender Equality Act, Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection (Amendment) Act, and National Gender Mainstreaming Policy. We encourage continued reform to further protect women from violence and other forms of discrimination.

We recommend the Republic of the Marshall Islands:

1. Ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;

2. Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body Elections;

3. Ensure the national Human Rights Committee complies with the Paris Principles on National Human Rights Institutions.

Thank you.