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Seychelles’ human rights record reviewed for third time at the UN Human Rights Council |15 May 2021

Seychelles’ human rights record reviewed for third time at the UN Human Rights Council

The Seychelles delegation during the virtual session

Seychelles underwent its third cycle review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Monday May 10, 2021 through a virtual session which was broadcast live on the UN website, and adopted yesterday, Friday May 14.

The Seychelles delegation was headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde.

The UPR is a peer review mechanism which allows for member states of the UN to engage through interactive dialogues and issue recommendations to the State that is being reviewed on its human rights practices.

This exercise is done with the ultimate goal of improving the human rights standing of all countries.

Notably, the UPR process is one which is tailor made, providing solutions for the specific State under review, rather than having a one size fits all approach towards the human rights needs of the States.

During the review, Minister Radegonde highlighted the improvements made within the country since Seychelles’ last review in 2016.

He reiterated that the new government “remains committed to continue fostering human rights, peace, social justice, equality, and non-discrimination among all Seychellois and inhabitants of these islands”.

The minister highlighted that the government is aware of specific areas which undoubtedly require attention, but that we are also gratified in the advancements we have achieved so far.

Over the past five years, Seychelles has enacted some important pieces of legislations that enhance the human rights of its people such as the new Domestic Violence Act, the amendment to the Children’s Act, the creation of the Human Right’s Commission, among others.

83 States participated in Seychelles’ review and issued a total of 215 recommendations calling for the enactment of new laws, domestication and ratification of relevant international instruments and the effective implementation of polices that will further safeguard the rights of people in Seychelles and the betterment of our society. Seychelles has affirmatively committed to 113 of these recommendations and will pronounce itself on the remaining ones, after necessary national consultations with concerned ministries and stakeholders.

Seychelles’ review was based on its National UPR Report submitted by the government in March this year; a compilation report summarising various comments and recommendations that Seychelles received under the various UN human rights mechanisms and treaty bodies, compiled by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the summary of stakeholders’ information which includes inputs of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission.

The delegation was also composed of the Attorney General Frank Ally; principal secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave; and other senior officials of the departments of Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs, Social Affairs, Employment, Family Affairs, as well as officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Seychelles Prisons Services, Seychelles Media Commission and the National Aids Council.

The review of Seychelles and relevant reports can be viewed on the following links:

http://webtv.un.org/watch/seychelles-review-38th-session-of-universal-periodic-review/6253525087001/

 

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/SCIndex.aspx

 

 

Press release from the department of Foreign Affairs

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