A/HRC/41/2
(b)
The compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 of the
annex to Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21
(A/HRC/WG.6/32/COM/2);
(c)
The summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 of the
annex to Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21
(A/HRC/WG.6/32/COM/3).
704. At its 26th meeting, on 4 July 2019, the Human Rights Council considered and
adopted the outcome of the review of the Comoros (see section C below).
705. The outcome of the review of the Comoros comprises the report of the Working
Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/41/12) and the views of the Comoros
concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, as well as its voluntary commitments
and its replies to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the
interactive dialogue in the Working Group, and which were presented before the adoption
of the outcome by the plenary (see also A/HRC/41/12/Add.1).
1.
Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or
conclusions, its voluntary commitments and the outcome
706. At its third universal periodic review, the Comoros received 177 recommendations.
It accepted 163 and its position regarding 14 recommendations was postponed. After
having extensively examined the pending 14 recommendations, the Comoros would like to
share its position.
707. Concerning recommendation 119.1, on the abolition of the death penalty and the
ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, the Government was against the death penalty. It had initiated the process
for its abolition, by introducing into the new draft Penal Code provisions to this effect.
However, because of the hostility of the majority of parliamentarians and the population as
a whole, recommendation 119.1 should be noted. The Comoros added that, since the
independence gained in 1975 until 2009, the death penalty had been applied only three
times. In addition, since 2009, this sentence had not been applied at all.
708. Regarding recommendations 119.2, 119.3, 119.4, 119.5, 119.6, the Comoros
continued to consider sexual orientation as an area of privacy. Moreover, according to the
delegation, there had never been reports of violence or discrimination against people on the
basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. These recommendations were therefore
noted.
709. With regard to the recommendations 119.7 and 119.8 on freedom of religion,
pursuant the Constitution, the membership and the attachment of the Comorian population
to Islam constituted the base of the construction of the identity and social cohesion.
However, insidious proselytism had threatened the fragile structure of the Comoros and
risked endangering the social and religious peace. Bearing in mind its duty to preserve the
Islamic religion practiced in the country, the Comoros decided to take note of these
recommendations.
710. With regard to recommendations 119.9, 119.10, 119.11, 11913, on the elimination
of corporal punishment of children, it was a fact that, families, and especially Koranic
teachers, considered corporal punishment as indispensable and beneficial to the education
of children. In the past, these punishments could take violent and traumatic forms.
However, families no longer tolerated these excesses that they themselves suffered from in
their childhood. The authorities were also largely convinced of the harmful effects of such
practices on the psycho-social development of children. However, before legislating on this
issue, the Comoros should launch a widespread awareness campaign, leading society to
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