Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 39th Session

Universal Periodic Review of Trinidad and Tobago
Statement by Australia

Tuesday 9 November 2021

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia commends Trinidad and Tobago for efforts to honour its international obligations with respect to migrants and refugees, particularly its establishment of a National Registration Process to register Venezuelan nationals.

Australia recommends that Trinidad and Tobago:

1. Adopt domestic legislation to reflect the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and amend all legislation that discriminates against persons with disabilities.
2. Improve implementation of national legislation and policies to reduce gender-based violence and protect victims and survivors, including improving staff training for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Gender-based Violence Unit.
3. Establish a de jure moratorium on the death penalty with a view to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
4. Amend the Equal Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination against LGBTI persons, and remove laws criminalising consensual same sex relations.
5. Enact legislation for the protection of refugees and the granting of asylum under international refugee instruments.

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