Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 42nd Session

Universal Periodic Review of the Czech Republic

Statement by Australia

23 January 2023

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia welcomes the Czech Republic’s strong commitment to respect, promote and fulfil human rights obligations. We commend the Czech Republic for the considerable humanitarian support it has provided to people forced to leave Ukraine. Australia acknowledges the Czech Republic’s progress in addressing discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic, including legislating compensation for women who have suffered involuntary sterilisation.  Australia also welcomes the continuing improvements to the conditions for prisoners in the Czech Republic.

Australia recommends that the Czech Republic:

1. Strengthen the mandate of the Czech Public Defender of Rights and align its mandate with the Paris Principles relating to the status of National Human Rights Institutions.
2. Eliminate all forms of segregation of Roma children in schools, supported by education programs to combat prejudice within the education system.
3. Introduce a consent-based definition of rape, among other measures, to protect the rights of survivors.

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