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discrimination. Australia also remained concerned that violence and discrimination against
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons had not been addressed through
legislative and policy instruments.
66.
The Bahamas noted that Trinidad and Tobago had become the first Commonwealth
Caribbean State to submit a mid-term progress report for the universal periodic review and
commended the inclusive multi-stakeholder consultations that had formed part of the
process of drafting the State’s report. The Bahamas commended efforts to strengthen the
legal framework to protect children and the State’s gender equality initiatives, including the
development of tools for gender-sensitive budgeting and training programmes designed to
challenge gender stereotypes.
67.
Barbados noted the adoption in 2013 of legislation on human trafficking and the
establishment of national agencies to combat that global issue; the adoption of the Children
Act, 2012, which had established a juvenile justice system; the ratification of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the decriminalization of defamation;
and the national policy on refugees and asylum seekers.
68.
Botswana applauded the proclamation of a number of laws, including the
Trafficking in Persons Act and the Children Act, and welcomed the improved access to
justice and the introduction of electronic monitoring to relieve prison overcrowding.
However, there had been reports of abuses carried out by law enforcement officials,
including corruption, and reports of inequalities faced by women in all sectors of the
economy.
69.
Canada was encouraged by the commitment shown by Trinidad and Tobago to
amending the Police Complaints Authority Act, in order to give that body more powers to
effectively investigate cases of serious misconduct, corruption and criminal offences
involving police officials. Canada encouraged the swift consideration by Parliament of new
provisions, as well as law enforcement training and public education initiatives, to ensure
effective implementation.
70.
Chile welcomed the entry into force of the Trafficking in Persons Act, the
ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the
establishment of the national policy on refugees and asylum seekers. However, there were
concerns about the State’s retention of the death penalty in its legislation, discrimination
against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, violence against women
and children and the early marriage of girls.
71.
China appreciated the State’s efforts to strengthen its national human rights
institution, provide human rights education, combat human trafficking and domestic
violence in order to protect women, children and persons with disabilities and introduce
measures to improve prison conditions. China also welcomed the ratification of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the establishment of a national
committee to fight trafficking in persons and the State’s active cooperation with OHCHR
and United Nations treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders.
72.
Colombia welcomed the adoption of the national policy on refugees and asylum
seekers and the establishment of the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Diversity,
the Environment and Sustainable Development.
73.
Cuba drew attention to the announcement made by Trinidad and Tobago in 2015 on
its attainment of universal early childhood care and education. Cuba also highlighted the
establishment of a drug treatment court, which provided an alternative to imprisonment for
drug offenders, in order to break the cycle of abuse, multiple arrests and recidivism.
74.
Denmark commended Trinidad and Tobago for ratifying several of the core United
Nations human rights conventions and on submitting its latest report to the Committee on
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