A/HRC/31/16
related activities, namely, the People Employment Programme and the Skills Training and
Entrepreneurial Programme. The delegation stated it was open to further assistance from
any international body that would assist the Government in this area.
83.
Saint Kitts and Nevis acknowledged its delinquency in reporting to treaty bodies and
explained that this was due in large measure to the existence of technical and legal
challenges in obtaining timely and accurate data from national entities and the lack of
capacity in producing such reports. Saint Kitts and Nevis expressed its readiness to
collaborate with OHCHR and any other international or regional entity that could assist the
country in this endeavour.
84.
The delegation stated that it took on board the recommendation to invite special
procedure mandate holders ,and that Saint Kitts and Nevis would positively consider it.
85.
Saint Kitts and Nevis deemed it vital to emphasize that the recommendations for the
creation of national human rights institutions had not gone unheeded and it considered the
importance of establishing such a national mechanism that would involve stakeholder
groups, including civil society. The delegation expressed that Saint Kitts and Nevis had
remained steadfast in its commitment immediately after its second cycle review to request
technical assistance from OHCHR to ascertain which national mechanism would be best
suited to its peculiar and unique circumstances in order to more effectively and efficiently
address human rights concerns, follow-up and implementation of the recommendations as
well as reporting.
86.
At a regional capacity-building exercise organized by OHCHR, the representatives
of Saint Kitts and Nevis extended an invitation to the United Nations regional office for an
in-country engagement and consultation with all necessary parties, immediately after its
second cycle review, to consider the available options for the establishment of such an
institution.
87.
On teenage pregnancy, the Ministry of Education had adopted the Health and Family
Life Education core curriculum in schools, supported by UNICEF. A theme unit of that
document addressed sexuality and sexual health, whereby students learned about sexuality
in terms of the total expression of who they are as human beings. It was envisaged that
gaining an understanding about this critically important topic would prevent any
discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or sexual identity.
88.
The delegation also referred to the programme that sought to address the
development needs of the very young in disadvantaged conditions where children benefit
from quality care, the development of basic skills, better health and nutrition and at the next
level better performance in preschool and future education.
89.
Regarding the ratification of human rights instruments the delegation reiterated that
it did not object to ratifying them, but it hoped that all would understand the challenges the
country was confronted by in doing so. In some cases, it would be necessary to adopt
conventions into domestic law and some constitutional changes and reforms would be
needed. It expressed that one of the commitments of the Government was to address areas
requiring constitutional reform. It stated, however, that entrenched in the Constitution of
Saint Kitts and Nevis were multiple provisions, including those related to fundamental
rights and freedoms, and that amendments and alterations would require special procedures,
parliamentary majorities and referendums.
90.
The delegation thanked the Working Group for its recommendations.
13
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents