A/HRC/45/2
the support of the international community in terms of resources and development
assistance.
787. The Center for Global Nonkilling welcomed the goodwill Kiribati showed towards
the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It stated that the ratification of those
international treaties would be a fair opportunity to highlight the value of life and of the
non-killing principle.
788. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (by video message) appreciated
Kiribati’s legislative efforts on issues such as climate change and disaster risk management
as well as access to quality and inclusive education. While appreciating the role of the
National Human Rights Task Force in facilitating the country’s engagement with the
United Nations human rights mechanisms, it called on the Government to ensure the Task
Force’s independence and build its capacity through technical assistance from regional and
United Nations bodies. It also praised Kiribati’s efforts to eliminate discriminatory societal
stereotypes against women. It, however, underlined that Kiribati noted the recommendation
calling for broadening the constitutional definition of discrimination, which excluded
sexual orientation or gender identity as prohibited grounds. It urged Kiribati to intensify
efforts to remove structural barriers to the right of women to transmit their nationality to
their children and foreign spouses; to ensure the equal rights of women to landownership,
inheritance and the exercise of agency through access to sexual and reproductive services,
including decriminalization of abortion; to take proactive measures to create community
awareness about the remedies available to victims and survivors of domestic and genderbased violence; to decriminalize consensual same-sex relations between adults; as well as
to amend the Penal Code to criminalize human trafficking in line with international
standards.
789. United Nations Watch (by video message) noted that Kiribati lacked protective laws
for the safety of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer and inter-sex (LGBTQI) persons
who were faced with criminalization of consensual sexual activity between males that could
result in up to 14 years of imprisonment. It further expressed concern about Kiribati’s
growing relations with the Government of China, a government denounced by special
procedures of the Human Rights Council for systematic repression.
4.
Concluding remarks of the State under review
790. The Vice-President thanked the head of the delegation of Kiribati for his
presentation, which included his concluding remarks, and stated that, based on the
information provided, out of 129 recommendations received, 88 enjoyed the support of
Kiribati, and 40 were noted. Additional clarification was provided on one recommendation,
indicating which part of the recommendations was supported and which part was noted.
Guinea-Bissau
791. The review of Guinea-Bissau was held on 24 January 2020 in conformity with all
the relevant provisions contained in relevant Human Rights Council resolutions and
decisions, and was based on the following documents:
(a)
The national report submitted by Guinea-Bissau 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.6/35/GNB/1);
(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.6/35/GNB/2);
126
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