A/HRC/23/8
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and signing the Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). It made
recommendations.
74.
Germany commended the Bahamas for its commitment to improving the human
rights situation in the country. It acknowledged the explanations of the Bahamas on the
issue of marital rape, but remained concerned over the high number of marital rape cases. It
encouraged the Bahamas to strongly consider the explicit criminalization of marital rape by
amending the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act. It made recommendations.
75.
Guatemala welcomed various measures to combat gender violence. It highlighted
the concern expressed by OHCHR and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women that the Bahamas did not consider it necessary to comply with the
provisions of article 9 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, which required States parties to grant women equal rights with men to
acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. It made
recommendations.
76.
Hungary commended the Bahamas for withdrawing its reservation to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women but
indicated that violence against women was reportedly still rising and goes unpunished. It
asked for more information on how the planned “Swift Justice” initiative would help and
whether the Bahamas would support the General Assembly resolution on a moratorium of
the death penalty, after the planned review of its penal system. Hungary, while appreciating
efforts taken for child protection, regretted that corporal punishment was still lawful. It
made recommendations.
77.
Indonesia welcomed and further encouraged the efforts of the Bahamas in
completing the 2012–2017 Strategic Plan for the Management, Prevention and Elimination
of Family Violence. It noted the continued efforts of the Bahamas in managing migration
and understood its concern as a transit country. Indonesia proposed that the “Bali Process”
might provide lessons learned in dealing with the issue. It made recommendations.
78.
Ireland commended the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Ireland urged the Bahamas to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step to
ultimate abolition. Ireland was concerned that the Bahamas had no regulatory framework
for asylum seekers and refugees, or system to protect the rights of stateless people. It noted
the continued prevalence of violence against women and that marital rape had not been
criminalized. It made recommendations.
79.
Italy was pleased to note that education received a large percentage of the Bahamian
budget. It asked for further details on current policy regarding asylum seekers and the
principle of confidentiality and what measures the Bahamas intended to take to prevent
abuses of illegal immigrants in detention. Italy also requested information on what
subsequent steps were planned to improve conditions at Fox Hill Prison. It made
recommendations.
80.
Latvia thanked the delegation of the Bahamas for its comprehensive national report
and raised the issue of standing invitations to the special procedures of the Human Rights
Council. It made recommendations.
81.
Malaysia commended the Bahamas for its commitment to further strengthening its
legal and institutional framework covering human rights standards and practices since its
last review. It commended in particular the enactment of the more comprehensive Child
Protection Act in 2009, while also noting that the Bahamas continued to face human and
technical capacity challenges. It made recommendations.
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