Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 37th Session

Universal Periodic Review of Sao Tome and Principe

Statement by Australia

27 January 2021

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia welcomes the Government of Sao Tome and Principe’s ratification of several United Nations Human Rights Conventions since its last UPR, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Australia welcomes the Government’s 2018 announcement to prioritise tackling corruption. We encourage Sao Tome and Principe to advance these efforts and to further integrate international human rights standards into its judicial system.

Australia recommends that Sao Tome and Principe:

1. Strictly enforce anti-corruption laws including the investigation and prosecution of persons who commit such offences.
2. Pass anti-discrimination legislation to explicitly extend protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons and prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
3. Repeal Government regulations that prohibit pregnant teenagers from attending high school to ensure women and girls’ right to education.

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