A/HRC/10/73
Page 13
domestic violence and physical abuse of children and to engage in an exchange of information
with those countries that are developing best practices in these fields.
57.
Chile expressed its appreciation on the active democracy of Barbados, its sustained
economic growth, its model of social consultation and its achievements in education. It also
noted the information provided concerning the campaign to end violence against women and
encouraged the Government to continue working in this field with a national plan and the
necessary legislative reforms. Chile recommended the promotion of the abolition of the death
penalty and the accession to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, modifying in the meantime its legislation with regard to the death penalty,
eliminating mandatory application and ensuring that the legislation is compatible with article 6
of the International Covenant. Chile also recommended that all forms of corporal punishment be
eliminated in its legislation and that sexual acts between consenting adults of the same sex be
decriminalized.
58.
Canada noted the State’s commitments to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of
its citizens and the important pieces of legislation passed in recent years with regard to the rights
of women, including the Domicile Reform Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Change of
Name Act and its granting women inheritance rights within common-law unions. It
recommended that Barbados take steps to enact legislation to enshrine a specific right of nondiscrimination on the basis of gender in accordance with article 1 of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It also recommended that the
Government focus more efforts on combating violence against women and provide authorities
with more training in this regard. Canada also recommended that Barbados decriminalize
consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex. It noted that the death penalty has not
been applied in more than two decades, but remains mandatory for certain types of crimes, and
recommended that Barbados amend its laws to remove mandatory sentences relating to the death
penalty and recognize an official moratorium on its use. Canada expressed concern about the
spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly within its prison system, and recommended that Barbados
allow for the distribution of condoms in its prisons in order to stem the prevalence of HIV/AIDS
in these institutions. Canada also noted the Government’s role in steadily increasing the standard
of living of its people, free elections, universal education and the diversification of the economy.
59.
Mexico welcomed the governance advisory board, which facilitates the Government’s
commitment to eliminate corruption in both private and public sectors. It asked whether in the
process of reviewing the Constitution it was determined that gender is a ground for
discrimination and if there is a definition of racial discrimination. Mexico recommended that
consideration be given to all international obligations in the field of human rights provisions in
the revision process of the Constitution. It welcomed efforts to achieve a practical moratorium on
the death penalty and recommended de jure abolition of the death penalty, and that Barbados
consider acceding to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights. Mexico also recommended that the State ratify the Convention against Torture
and the Optional Protocol thereto, and extend an open and permanent invitation to international
human rights mechanisms.
60.
The Republic of Korea noted with delight that Barbados had adopted the Penal System
Reform Act, which puts greater emphasis on rehabilitation, and the Evidence Act with its
provisions for audio- and video-taping police interviews. It welcomed the implementation of the
Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials by the police.
It attached great importance to the efforts of Barbados to adopt a policy of free education for all
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