Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 37th Session

Universal Periodic Review of Saint Lucia

Statement by Australia

20 January 2021

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia acknowledges Saint Lucia’s progress. We remain concerned at excessive use of force by police, and we urge the government to develop and introduce domestic violence legislation to provide greater protection to women and girls.

Australia is deeply concerned the death penalty remains part of Saint Lucia’s legal framework.

Australia recommends that Saint Lucia:

1. Abolish the death penalty and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. Repeal all provisions of law criminalizing sexual activity between consenting adults and take legislative and other measures to protect victims of violence based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. Increase the pace of legal reform and improve the efficiency of the judicial system, by: promoting legal literacy; combating low prosecution rates; increasing services to process evidence, especially for sex offenses; and increasing social protections, rehabilitation and psycho-emotional support services.
4. Revise the Health and Family Life Education program, especially to include components on healthy and respectful relationships, human rights, gender equality, non-discrimination, violence and gender-based violence, in line with UN technical guidelines, and train competent facilitators or service providers to deliver the program.

 [194 Words]