The UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group is calling on St Vincent to implement a number of recommendations that will improve its human rights records in the future.
According to the draft report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is being urged to implement measures including acceding to or ratifying the Second Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which promotes international commitment in abolishing the death penalty.
In addition the state is being urged to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as well as sign or ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is also being asked to implement comprehensive guidelines under the Domestic Violence Act to ensure a coordinated response for victims of violence by police, courts, health and social welfare agencies and undertake a public advocacy campaign to combat gender-based violence, in consultation with all relevant
The state is also being urged to implement targeted training for law enforcement officials on responding to cases of domestic violence, and ensure that all allegations are fully investigated, and to take steps to ensure the provision of adequate shelter, including staffing and durable resources, for victims of domestic violence.
The human rights record of several CARICOM countries are being examined by the UN body.
