A/HRC/23/14
45.
Spain commended Liechtenstein for its efforts, in particular for its recent decision to
establish an independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris
Principles. Spain asked Liechtenstein to provide additional information on the process for
creation of such institution. Spain made recommendations.
46.
Sri Lanka noted the considerable attention paid to issues including the rights of the
child, gender equality and the integration of foreigners. Particularly noteworthy were the
establishment of the Ombuds Office for Children and Young People in 2009 and the
establishment of the Children and Youth Advisory Council. Efforts to prevent trafficking in
persons, even though Liechtenstein had not experienced the problem on its territory, were
commended. Sri Lanka made recommendations.
47.
Switzerland welcomed efforts by Liechtenstein to uphold the rule of law and its
contribution to the International Criminal Court. It expressed appreciation that the two
recommendations it had made during the first UPR cycle on adopting legislation to
establish a civil partnership for same-sex couples and introducing the automatic prosecution
of domestic violence had been implemented. Switzerland commended Liechtenstein for its
plans to consider the legal framework for the voluntary termination of pregnancy.
Switzerland made a recommendation.
48.
Liechtenstein thanked all the delegations who spoke for their valuable contributions.
On the establishment of a national human rights institution as well as the administrative
reform, which was also addressed by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland in an advance question, the Minister gave a brief overview of the existing
institutions with a mandate to promote human rights.
49.
The Corrections Commission was tasked with monitoring the treatment of convicts
and prisoners on remand and at the same time serves as the national preventive mechanism
(NPM) as set out in the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. Likewise of
note was the Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities, which had a broad
mandate, including to prevent discrimination and marginalization for persons with
disabilities in everyday life and facilitate integration to the greatest possible extent. The
Government’s Office of Equal Opportunity also played a special role and was active in the
fields of gender equality, disability, social disadvantage and sexual orientation. The Office
was part of the administration, but operated free of directives in certain fields of its
activities. As to the question from Germany, the administrative reform did not affect the
independence and the activities of the Office.
50.
The most important innovation at the institutional level in the last four years had
been the creation of an Ombuds Office for Children and Young People in 2009/2010. A
similar body, namely the Senior Advisory Council, was created for the representation of the
interests of older people in 2007.
51.
In the framework of an overarching administrative reform, the Government had
reconsidered the institutional architecture in the area of human rights protection and
promotion and adopted a draft bill proposing to create an independent human rights body in
accordance with the Paris Principles. However, questions were raised both concerning the
added value of such an institution and the proposed design of the new body. The
Government had then decided to postpone that part of the reform in order to be able to
make a comprehensive examination of all the questions that had been raised.
52.
On gender equality and women’s rights and the respective subthemes like political
participation of women, violence against women, the gender pay gap, stereotypes, etc.,
within the national administration, the Office of Equal Opportunity dealt with gender
equality and other human rights and non-discrimination issues.
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