A/HRC/38/9
(Amendment) Act, 2017. It applauded the progress made by the Bahamas in advancing the
rights of persons with disabilities through the signing of the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities in 2014. It stated that those measures had helped promote the rights
and equal opportunities of all persons with disabilities in concrete ways, including when
seeking employment.
91.
Slovenia welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities and accession to two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child. It noted the willingness of the Bahamas to accede to the Convention against Torture,
and to possibly accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It recognized
the Government’s efforts to facilitate the amendment of the Bahamian Constitution.
92.
Spain congratulated the Bahamas for its acceptance of the visits of the special
procedure mandate holders, and acknowledged the de facto moratorium on the application of
the death penalty. Spain also congratulated the Bahamas for the adoption of the Persons with
Disabilities (Equal Opportunity) Act, 2014.
93.
Trinidad and Tobago welcomed the signature and ratification of the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities
(Equal Opportunity) Act, 2014. It also recognized the substantial legislative progress
achieved in respect of the access of the Family Islands to services, the administration of
justice, the protection of children and addressing gender inequality.
94.
Ukraine commended the Bahamas for strengthening its legal framework, inter alia, in
the areas of education, health insurance and immigration, creating committees and councils
tasked with ensuring children’s rights and improving access to justice. Ukraine encouraged
the Bahamas to maintain a consistent dialogue with civil society and recognized its high level
of human development.
95.
The United Kingdom welcomed the national anti-trafficking strategy and action plan
and encouraged the Bahamas to increase its efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers. It
also urged action to promote gender equality, including preventing discrimination on the
grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and encouraged the new Government to
take steps towards the abolition of the death penalty.
96.
The United States was disappointed that many issues noted in the previous review
remained unaddressed, such as the restrictions on the human rights of women and of members
of marginalized communities. It was also concerned about the backlog in the criminal justice
system, resulting in long pretrial detention in overcrowded jails and poor detention
conditions.
97.
Uruguay encouraged the Bahamas to consider ratifying the International Convention
for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; the International Convention
on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and
the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It
also encouraged the Bahamas to explicitly prohibit all forms of corporal punishment of
children.
98.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela acknowledged the efforts of the Bahamas to
implement the recommendations accepted in the previous review. It also noted that the
Bahamas had ratified several international human rights instruments, had achieved a high
level of human development and had guaranteed access to basic rights. It further appreciated
the efforts made to eliminate violence and discrimination against women.
99.
Afghanistan commended the Bahamas for its achievements since the last review. It
acknowledged the launching in 2016 of the Bill on Freedom of Information and the
commitment of the Bahamas to adequately reflect it in the national legal framework.
100. Algeria congratulated the Bahamas on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities. Algeria noted with satisfaction that, since the last review, the
Bahamas had started a process of legislative reform relating to human rights and education
and praised the efforts made in that area.
101. Angola commended the Bahamas for its cooperation with international human rights
mechanisms and for its efforts to implement the recommendations from the last review. It
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