Displaying 43626 - 43650 of 58126 recommendations found
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:GhanaGhanaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Reinforce relevant measures to address high prevalence of child abuse and domestic violence and ensuring all perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the main international human rights instruments, including ICCPR, ICESCR, ICERD, and CAT. Also sign and ratify OP-ICESCR, OPCAT, OP-CRC-AC, OP-CRC-SC, CED, CRPD and its Optional Protocol (OP-CRPD)ImplementationNational Report:
Para 7) Of the international instruments, Sao Tome and Principe has ratified ... the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (6 October 2014).
Para 139) In the case of persons with disabilities, it should be pointed out that Act No. 7/2012 was approved on 4 March 2010 and published on 12 September 2012 in Official Gazette No. 110. The State has finally ratified the CRPD, approved by Resolution No. 103/IX/2014 of the National Assembly on 31 December 2014, thus consolidating the guarantee of the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- International human rights instruments
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:N/AContents:At the regional level, Sao Tome and Principe ratified the following treaties in 2019: ... the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; [Para 12] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- HIV and AIDS
Type:Review DocumentationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:N/AContents:"HIV-positive pregnant women have been monitored by the National Programme for
Combating AIDS (PNLS) since 2007, an activity carried out with the support of WFP in the
form of food and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which
finances the distribution of infant formulas. Difficulties arise because of the refusal of the
male partners of these women to allow diagnosis and support for them. The heavy stigma
attached has led many women to reject taking advantage of nutritional support and
monitoring of their babies at home, depriving them of the advantages of nursing with infant
formula. [Para 101]" -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:PortugalPortugalRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify following international legal instruments, respectively: (i) ICESCR and its OP; ... the three OPs to the CRC.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … In 2017, it ratified: … the ICESCR; … It has also ratified the OP-CRC-SC, …
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 18) Just Atonement Inc … regretted that Sao Tome and Principe had not ratified the OP-CRC-SC.
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:GhanaGhanaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Birth registration
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Redouble national measures aimed at ensuring that every child in the country is issued with a birth certificate promptly at birth.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 32) Regarding registration and notaries, the aims are to improve the birth registration process, simplify administrative procedures, registration and notarial practices, decentralize services and review the current fees.
Para 62) … the Government has taken a series of policy, legislative and institutional measures to ensure that children can be registered immediately after birth, free of charge, throughout the country, in accordance with the requirements set out in article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These measures include the following: • The adoption of the National Permanent Birth Registration Strategy, through Decree No. 45/2009; the strategy comprises a set of measures that include the registration or confirmation of births in all maternity hospitals and wards (in Ayres de Menezes Hospital and in Guadalupe, Neves and São João dos Angolares on the island of Sao Tome and in Manuel Quaresma Dias da Graça Hospital on the island of Principe) and in local register offices. • The issuance of Joint Order No. 04/2017, which establishes that a birth may be registered and the mother’s identity or the child’s characteristics recorded free of charge, provided that the registration takes place within one year of the birth. • The holding of free health and birth registration fairs for all children in all districts of the country on a regular basis by the Directorate General of Registers and Notaries, in collaboration with UNICEF. • The creation of a birth registration unit in the maternity ward of Ayres de Menezes Hospital; the unit is open every day, including on weekends and public holidays. • The introduction of a computerized management system that allows for electronic birth registration at the regional register office and local register offices throughout the country. The proportion of births that are registered is now around 95 per cent, according to the multiple indicator cluster survey conducted by the National Statistics Office in 2014.
UN Compilation:
Para 6) UNICEF stated that, further to advocacy on birth registration conducted at the end of 2016, in early 2017, the ministries responsible for justice and for finance had signed a decree ensuring birth registration free of charge for children up to 1 year of age, replacing the previous policy, under which birth registration had been free of charge only during the first month of a child’s life. UNICEF expected that the new policy would help achieve full birth registration,12 and that the excellent achievements of the country in the area of birth registration could inspire other countries to reach related objectives.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 8) Just Atonement Inc regretted the lack of data in Sao Tome and Principe, which highly affected the ability to remedy situations of child abuse. It noted, in particular, that data related to birth records, … was sparse.
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UruguayUruguayRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Adopt a national coordination framework to combat all forms of violence against children, dealing with aspects of gender violence.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 16) In order to enforce this constitutional measure, a number of laws and decrees have been introduced containing legal provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination against and ill-treatment of children. They include: • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence, which provides for the establishment of mechanisms to prevent and punish domestic and family violence …
Para 18) Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence provides for the establishment of specific mechanisms for the prevention of domestic and family violence and, in article 7, lists various forms of violence, including physical, psychological and sexual violence and emotional and financial abuse.
Para 19) With specific reference to bodily harm and physical violence, article 7 (a) defines physical violence as follows: “Physical violence is understood as any behaviour that damages bodily integrity or health, such as slapping, pulling, pushing, hitting, pinching, biting, scratching, kicking and assaulting with weapons or objects”. Article 19 of the Act provides for penalties for offences of causing bodily harm, in the following terms: “Any person who, by committing abuse in a domestic or family setting, harms the body or health of another person, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of from 3 to 8 years”. The penalties for aggravated offences of causing bodily harm are set out in article 20 of the Act. Para 20) Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, also provides for the punishment of offences of bodily harm in general, in articles 141 to 151, and against minors in particular, in article 152. It cannot therefore be said that any legislation exists in Sao Tome and Principe that permits bodily harm against children or any other persons.
Para 25) The Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence has improved certain aspects of its internal conditions and acquired computer equipment to enable its offices to communicate with District Commands and the National Police Department in the Principe Autonomous Region. It has also set up a shelter for victims, produced behaviour change communication materials, conducted local outreach campaigns and a participatory baseline study on domestic violence, and evaluated the implementation of the Gender-based Violence Strategy and its respective update for the period 2019–2023.
Para 26) However, it should be noted that the Centre still faces many difficulties in ensuring its proper functioning.
Para 28) Also in the context of capacity-building for the judicial system, a process to modernize the entire justice system has been launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The aim of the process is to modernize the system’s organization, management, human resources and physical and information technology infrastructure, as well as the provision of equipment and materials. To this end, a series of actions are planned, including: … The establishment of a directorate general for crime prevention dedicated to tackling domestic violence …
Para 81) Recommendations 108.36, 108.37 and 108.39 essentially call for measures to counter all forms of discrimination and violence against women. Sao Tome and Principe has adopted a series of legislative and other measures to combat this evil, which is taking root in society: • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence provides for the creation of mechanisms for the prevention and punishment of domestic and family violence, in line with the commitments made under the CEDAW, and for the establishment of courts specializing in cases of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. It also provides for measures to assist and protect victims of domestic violence. It defines the concept of domestic violence as “any act or omission occurring within the family or household that causes death, injury, physical, sexual or psychological suffering and material or non-material damage or deprivation of liberty in the following situations”. The Act also identifies and defines six forms of domestic and family violence, namely, physical, psychological and sexual violence and financial and emotional abuse. The penalties for offences that fall within these categories of violence are established in articles 13, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of the Act. • Act No. 12/2008 on Strengthening Legal Protection Mechanisms for Victims of Domestic and Family Violence Offences raises national awareness of violence of this kind, which constitutes a flagrant violation of women’s rights, and helps women themselves to break the silence on the subject and to draw attention to the problem by reporting cases of domestic and family violence, which was previously not considered an offence. • Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, was adopted in order to protect against and prohibit all forms of discrimination and violence against women, ill-treatment and exploitation of minors and subordinates, domestic violence and so on. Articles 129 to 256 of the Code establish penalties for these offences.
Para 82) As mentioned above, in line with recommendation 107.57, access to education in Sao Tome and Principe is universal and free of charge up to the ninth year of schooling, and there is no discrimination as regards the right to education or the right to employment.
UN Compilation:
Para 12) UNICEF stated that the districts of Mé-Zóchi and Lembá were among those with the highest rates of domestic violence, according to the national police. Mé-Zóchi included some of the most populated rural communities in the country. The preliminary results of the study financed by UNICEF in 2018 on the impact of interventions against domestic violence showed that awareness of domestic violence as a crime had increased in communities in the most remote areas of the country, such as those in the districts of MéZóchi and Lembá. That knowledge resulted from awareness-raising activities supported by United Nations and other organizations. Nevertheless, existing gender dynamics affected the translation of the knowledge into new behaviours.
Para 13) UNICEF noted the critical situation of women in the country, and that worrying phenomena continued to be observed in the area of child protection, including child labour, violence against children (corporal punishment was common), sexual violence and early marriage.
Para 14) UNICEF also noted that some of the most critical barriers to eliminating violence against children and women included strong gender stereotypes and discrimination, as well as multiple-partner dynamics out of wedlock, leading to an absence of social and economic responsibility by males, and the use of corporal punishment by caregivers.
Para 49) UN-Women also referred to concerns regarding … the proportion of women aged 15–49 years who had reported that they had been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 12) The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights noted, as a step forward, the holistic efforts of Sao Tome and Principe to combat gender-based domestic violence and child abuse. The Commission noted in particular the introduction of appropriate legislation and the establishment of entities and institutions to that effect, including the Counselling Centre against Domestic and Spousal Violence. The Commission also appreciated the awareness-raising campaigns, including the “green ribbon” campaign against child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes, among other violations of women’s and children’s rights.
Para 13) Despite notable advances, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights remained concerned about the high prevalence of child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes.
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:HungaryHungaryRegional groupEEGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Undertake awareness-raising campaigns on sexual exploitation of children.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 137) The exploitation, sexual violence and prostitution of children are social phenomena which are becoming increasingly important globally and Sao Tome is not exempt. Internal measures have thus been implemented to prevent and combat the development of these phenomena. The measures involve numerous public and private organizations, such as INPG, the Support Centre for Domestic Violence, education centres, social communication and the Association of Women Jurists, in national awareness-raising campaigns to prevent and combat exploitation, sexual violence and child prostitution. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:IndiaIndiaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the OP-CRC-SC. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Rights of same-sex desiring persons
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Adopt strategies and awareness campaigns to combat homophobia in society and in the family environment. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Domestic violence
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Educate the public, the law enforcement officials and the judiciary about the rights of women, especially in cases of rape and domestic violence. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:ChinaChinaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Continue the efforts to promote gender equality and better protect women's rights. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Timor-LesteTimor-LesteRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupIssue:
- Gender equality
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Increase its efforts to address existing gaps in the legislation, including and especially with regard to discrimination against women.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 120) The Government has also adopted numerous legislative provisions in the national legal order: ... Act No. 6/2012, which approves the new Criminal Code, defines certain crimes against women and children, in order to accelerate proceedings in respect of them ...
Para 121) In respect of the participation of women in public life, in 2009, the National Assembly adopted a resolution on parity which establishes a quota of 30 per cent for female representation in the Parliament (R74/08/2009).
Para 123) Another noteworthy measure is the implementation of article 4 (on maternity leave) of the Maternity Protection Convention through Presidential Decree No. 3/2004 of 4 February, published in Official Gazette No. 3 on 6 April 2004, which provides that: "A woman to whom this Convention applies shall be entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 14 weeks, on production of a medical certificate or other appropriate certification, as determined by national law and practice, stating the presumed date of childbirth." This measure represents an additional achievement in advancing the rights of women and children. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:BrazilBrazilRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the treaties already signed, such as ICERD, ICESCR, ICCPR, and CAT. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:QuestionSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:Not Followed up with a RecommendationContents:The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights further reported that its delegation had noted that, as part of the progress made by Sao Tome and Principe, the Government had ratified several international and regional instruments since 2018, under the lead of international partners such as the African Union and the United Nations Development Programme, and that it had finalized its second periodic report to the CRC. [Para 3]
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
Type:Review DocumentationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:NeglectedContents:Ensure access to reproductive health counselling and information and services for all adolescents. [Para 26; CRC] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Domestic violence
Type:Review DocumentationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:N/AContents:"The Government has created the Counselling Centre for Combating Domestic
Violence in order to protect victims and counsel couples. In addition to these public
institutions, the Government receives the cooperation of several NGOs, such as the Fórum
das Mulheres, the Mutendê Institute, the Association para Progresso da Mulher, the
Cooperativa Josina Machel, the Associação de Apoio das Mulheres e Crianças Vitimas de
Violência, the São Tomé Family Planning Association, the Association of Businesswomen
and Professionals of São Tomé and Principe, the Association Vicentina Feminina and the
Association of Female Attorneys. Despite that improvement, there is occasional
discrimination and gaps in legislation. However, there has been improvement. [Para 58]" -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:FranceFranceRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOIFIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Finalise the accession to the international instruments on the protection of human rights signed by the country, in particular the ICCPR, ... ICESCR ...ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … In 2017, it ratified: the ICCPR, the OP-ICCPR; … the ICESCR;
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:PhilippinesPhilippinesRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupASEANIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Provide women with equal access to education and employment opportunities, and give priority attention to women-led households in the Government's poverty-alleviation and food security programs.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 40) In September 2015, the Government adopted the National Social Protection Strategy, with the aim of contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty over the next 10 years. In all, five strategic objectives were defined: … (c) Promote employability and access to safe and decent work, especially among groups who do not participate in the labour market, such as young persons, women …
Para 59) Recommendation 107.84 refers to guaranteeing the right to education for pregnant teenagers. Under article 36 of the Disciplinary Regulations for Upper Secondary Education, pregnant teenage girls and the teenage boys involved have at times been banned from attending classes.
Para 60) However, in order to adhere to the conceptual framework established under the “Burden on Girls and Quality Education for All” project, this provision was repealed by article 1 of Ordinance No. 18/GMEES/2020 of 27 March, thus ensuring that pregnant teenagers can continue their studies.
UN Compilation:
Para 40) … While enrolment in primary school was high and inclusive of boys and girls, the quality of education at all levels remained an issue, with high dropout and repetition rates, especially among girls.
Para 43) UNICEF noted that, despite a slight improvement, secondary school dropout rates for both girls and boys remained high, and that the causes needed to be identified and addressed. It noted the lack of a gender-responsive education system, in which pregnant girls were only allowed to attend evening sessions.
Para 51) ILO stated that, in the economic sphere, it had been found that, although women in Sao Tome and Principe were more active than men, particularly in the informal sector, they still had little economic power, according to a poverty profile study. Accordingly, one of the country’s development challenges was to ensure equal enjoyment for men and women of favourable conditions and opportunities to achieve self-reliance.
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:United KingdomUnited KingdomRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUCommonwealthIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Sexual violence
- Domestic violence
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Take urgent steps to reduce and eliminate domestic and sexual violence against women, including measures to raise awareness of women's legal rights in consultation with civil society groups, and ensuring fair and expeditious trials of domestic and sexual violence cases.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 16) In order to enforce this constitutional measure, a number of laws and decrees have been introduced containing legal provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination against and ill-treatment of children. They include: • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence, which provides for the establishment of mechanisms to prevent and punish domestic and family violence …
Para 18) Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence provides for the establishment of specific mechanisms for the prevention of domestic and family violence and, in article 7, lists various forms of violence, including physical, psychological and sexual violence and emotional and financial abuse.
Para 19) With specific reference to bodily harm and physical violence, article 7 (a) defines physical violence as follows: “Physical violence is understood as any behaviour that damages bodily integrity or health, such as slapping, pulling, pushing, hitting, pinching, biting, scratching, kicking and assaulting with weapons or objects”. Article 19 of the Act provides for penalties for offences of causing bodily harm, in the following terms: “Any person who, by committing abuse in a domestic or family setting, harms the body or health of another person, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of from 3 to 8 years”. The penalties for aggravated offences of causing bodily harm are set out in article 20 of the Act. Para 20) Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, also provides for the punishment of offences of bodily harm in general, in articles 141 to 151, and against minors in particular, in article 152. It cannot therefore be said that any legislation exists in Sao Tome and Principe that permits bodily harm against children or any other persons.
Para 25) The Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence has improved certain aspects of its internal conditions and acquired computer equipment to enable its offices to communicate with District Commands and the National Police Department in the Principe Autonomous Region. It has also set up a shelter for victims, produced behaviour change communication materials, conducted local outreach campaigns and a participatory baseline study on domestic violence, and evaluated the implementation of the Gender-based Violence Strategy and its respective update for the period 2019–2023.
Para 26) However, it should be noted that the Centre still faces many difficulties in ensuring its proper functioning.
Para 28) Also in the context of capacity-building for the judicial system, a process to modernize the entire justice system has been launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The aim of the process is to modernize the system’s organization, management, human resources and physical and information technology infrastructure, as well as the provision of equipment and materials. To this end, a series of actions are planned, including: … The establishment of a directorate general for crime prevention dedicated to tackling domestic violence …
Para 81) Recommendations 108.36, 108.37 and 108.39 essentially call for measures to counter all forms of discrimination and violence against women. Sao Tome and Principe has adopted a series of legislative and other measures to combat this evil, which is taking root in society: • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence provides for the creation of mechanisms for the prevention and punishment of domestic and family violence, in line with the commitments made under the CEDAW, and for the establishment of courts specializing in cases of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. It also provides for measures to assist and protect victims of domestic violence. It defines the concept of domestic violence as “any act or omission occurring within the family or household that causes death, injury, physical, sexual or psychological suffering and material or non-material damage or deprivation of liberty in the following situations”. The Act also identifies and defines six forms of domestic and family violence, namely, physical, psychological and sexual violence and financial and emotional abuse. The penalties for offences that fall within these categories of violence are established in articles 13, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of the Act. • Act No. 12/2008 on Strengthening Legal Protection Mechanisms for Victims of Domestic and Family Violence Offences raises national awareness of violence of this kind, which constitutes a flagrant violation of women’s rights, and helps women themselves to break the silence on the subject and to draw attention to the problem by reporting cases of domestic and family violence, which was previously not considered an offence. • Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, was adopted in order to protect against and prohibit all forms of discrimination and violence against women, ill-treatment and exploitation of minors and subordinates, domestic violence and so on. Articles 129 to 256 of the Code establish penalties for these offences.
Para 82) As mentioned above, in line with recommendation 107.57, access to education in Sao Tome and Principe is universal and free of charge up to the ninth year of schooling, and there is no discrimination as regards the right to education or the right to employment.
UN Compilation:
Para 12) UNICEF stated that the districts of Mé-Zóchi and Lembá were among those with the highest rates of domestic violence, according to the national police. Mé-Zóchi included some of the most populated rural communities in the country. The preliminary results of the study financed by UNICEF in 2018 on the impact of interventions against domestic violence showed that awareness of domestic violence as a crime had increased in communities in the most remote areas of the country, such as those in the districts of MéZóchi and Lembá. That knowledge resulted from awareness-raising activities supported by United Nations and other organizations. Nevertheless, existing gender dynamics affected the translation of the knowledge into new behaviours.
Para 13) UNICEF noted the critical situation of women in the country, and that worrying phenomena continued to be observed in the area of child protection, including child labour, violence against children (corporal punishment was common), sexual violence and early marriage.
Para 14) UNICEF also noted that some of the most critical barriers to eliminating violence against children and women included strong gender stereotypes and discrimination, as well as multiple-partner dynamics out of wedlock, leading to an absence of social and economic responsibility by males, and the use of corporal punishment by caregivers.
Para 49) UN-Women also referred to concerns regarding … the proportion of women aged 15–49 years who had reported that they had been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 12) The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights noted, as a step forward, the holistic efforts of Sao Tome and Principe to combat gender-based domestic violence and child abuse. The Commission noted in particular the introduction of appropriate legislation and the establishment of entities and institutions to that effect, including the Counselling Centre against Domestic and Spousal Violence. The Commission also appreciated the awareness-raising campaigns, including the “green ribbon” campaign against child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes, among other violations of women’s and children’s rights.
Para 13) Despite notable advances, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights remained concerned about the high prevalence of child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes.
-
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Other
Type:Review DocumentationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:Reference AddressedContents:CRC remained concerned that, despite the measures taken, many children lived with single mothers or in an unstable family environment and that there was a high rate of child abandonment. It recommended that the State, inter alia, ensure that children born out of wedlock be registered and enjoy the same protection and services as children born in wedlock. [Para 19] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Establish permanent mechanisms to carry out investigations into cases of sexual exploitation, and provide victims with the assistance and services necessary for their rehabilitation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 133) It should be highlighted that these legal measures have been consolidated in the new Criminal Code, which has numerous articles aimed at protecting the rights of children, as set out in international standards, in particular the following: ...
(m) Article 175 on sexual abuse of children;
(n) Article 176 on sexual abuse of adolescents;
(o) Article 177 on sexual acts with adolescents;
(p) Article 178 on homosexual acts with adolescents;
(q) Article 179 on prostitution of minors;
(r) Article 180 on child pornography;
Para 137) The exploitation, sexual violence and prostitution of children are social phenomena which are becoming increasingly important globally and Sao Tome is not exempt. Internal measures have thus been implemented to prevent and combat the development of these phenomena. The measures involve numerous public and private organizations, such as INPG, the Support Centre for Domestic Violence, education centres, social communication and the Association of Women Jurists, in national awareness-raising campaigns to prevent and combat exploitation, sexual violence and child prostitution.
UN Compilation:
Para 13) The CRC welcomed the revision by Sao Tome and Principe of its Penal Code in 2012 to explicitly include provisions on sexual abuse, exploitation of minors and child trafficking ... -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Burkina FasoBurkina FasoRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICOIFIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
- Sex work / "prostitution"
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Enact laws explicitly prohibiting prostitution and the sexual exploitation of children.ExplanationNoted. Sao Tome and Principe also noted these recommendations because the acts in question are already punishable under articles 158 to 182 of the Criminal Code. There is therefore no justification for accepting the recommendations. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:ItalyItalyRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Sexual abuse
- Sex work / "prostitution"
- International human rights instruments
- Pornography
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the OPs to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and adopt measures to protect all children from violence and abuse. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:IcelandIcelandRegional groupWEOGIssue:
- Sexuality education
- Right to health
- Adolescent pregnancy
- Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Implement the commitment made at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to respond to the needs of young people and reducing the early pregnancy rate from 15% to 10% by 2023 through the intensification of comprehensive sexuality education in all secondary schools and provision of youth friendly sexual and reproductive health in all health centres and posts.