UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 89) There are currently two policies within the educational structure which caters for the completion of educational programmes for secondary and post-secondary girls in order that they may pursue their studies after child birth. In secondary level, the Teenage pregnancy Policy (2005) allows for continued access to education after delivery based on the student’s choice. In Professional centres, the Pregnancy Policy (2019) is designed to assist and support expectant learners or new parents during the period of their training programme of study.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 13) … the SHRC noted that teenage mothers could pursue their schooling after giving birth, but that such protection was in policy and not in the law and urged the Government to ensure full legal protection.

National Report:
Para 24) There is currently on-going work to further review the ‘Children Act 1982’ and incorporate provisions of the United Nations ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child’. The Cabinet of ministers has approved the Ratification of the ‘Optional Protocol to the Convention on a Communications Procedure’ in 2020. It now awaits approval of the National Assembly, expected for tabling during the first half of 2021.
Para 113) The Government is in the process of considering the following human rights related instruments in order to determine Seychelles’ position towards signature and/or ratification: • OP-CRC-IC; …

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 2) … , the Seychelles Human Rights Commission (SHRC) noted that Seychelles had ratified all 9 core human rights treaties, but that Government action was still required regarding …, the OP-CRC-IC, …

National Report:
Para 12) As of mid-2020, the media have been granted free access to all courts and are no longer required to seek permission from the Registrar of the Supreme Court or security before entering. This was enforced by the Public Relations department on the basis that the courts are public. Unless a closed hearing is taking place on sensitive matters (sexual assault especially), journalists are encouraged to cover court cases, making the courts more visible in newspapers and on television. In this way, justice is delivered in the eyes of all, rather than behind closed doors with no accountability.
Para 20) The President appointed a Child Law Reform Committee (CLRC) with effect from June 2020, which is chaired by the former Chief Justice and Judge of the Court of Appeal and consists of members from the Attorney General’s Office, the Social Affairs Department, Seychelles Police, NCC and the Ministry for Education. The CLRC is supported by a technical committee to enable it to carry out its functions efficiently. The Committee was tasked with reviewing sexual offences and to propose reform of the provisions under the Penal Code. It is also mandated to review other existing legal framework applicable to children, and make recommendations for legal reform to enhance the legal protections afforded to children in line with Seychelles’ Constitution, international law obligations and best practice. This reform has become increasingly important following public outcry towards a sexual abuse case reported in April 2020 involving girls ranging from 12 to 18 years old. The case was a first-of-its-kind in Seychelles and has resulted in shock and outrage among residents.
Para 21) The Committee has done extensive work and proposed a modern sexual offence legislation which will be submitted to the government during the first quarter of 2021 for consideration. The Committee is dedicated to ensuring that the protection of constitutional rights is upheld in all its recommendations as well as ensuring clear non-discriminatory drafting of legal provisions that allow for empowerment, effective advocacy, strong policies and practices, and which are consistent in application and encourage a positive shift in attitude and behaviour at a societal level.
Para 22) The CLRC affirmed that it will continue its work in the coming year, conduct extensive public consultation, including a dedicated Children’s Conference to ensure that voices of children are heard, and inform any new laws intended to enhance their protection, review existing laws, and recommend consequential amendments that will need to be enacted to accommodate its recommendations relating to the proposed sexual offences law.
Para 31) The CLRC has also contributed to the evaluation of Seychelles laws in the context of gender based violence and child protection by drawing from evidence on domestic practices and inputs, and equate them with international and regional norms. It found that whilst the Penal Code provides certain protection against sexual offences for both women and children, laws have to be introduced to give full effect to the protection. Subsequently, a range of new offences will be recommended in relation to rape such as sexual grooming, the use of intimate images and sexual communication with children through social media and other digital platforms. Furthermore, harassment offences such as cat calling, flashing, blackmail and more are also to become punishable by law under the proposed legislation.

National Report:
Para 34) Since 2011, Seychelles has witnessed numerous sectors appointing women in significant decision making positions for the first time. This includes Seychelles' first female Judge of the Court of the Appeal, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Governor of the Central Bank; Secretary General of the Executive Office of the President, Chair of the Seychelles Savings Bank, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Trading Company, Chief Executive Officer of the Pension Fund and the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Credit Union.

Para 38) The 'National Gender Policy and Plan of Action' (NGPPA) is set to be launched following Governmental approval. The objectives of the NGGPA include creating an enabling environment; raising awareness and building capacity of men and women decision-makers to become gender champions at all levels of government, agencies, parastatals and private sectors; commitments to building capacity in gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation, to ensure accurate measurement of progress made towards achievement of gender related targets; to increase women's, men's, girls' and boys' access to quality education and training programmes in order to build a productive work force, free of gender stereotypes.

Para 39) A 'Gender and Law Manual' drawing on the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and laying out a legal assessment of the laws of Seychelles regarding gender was published by the Department on Social Affairs in 2012, to guide the Judiciary to interpret the laws of Seychelles in a manner consistent with international human rights obligations and national standards.

Para 40) Training sessions on gender issues continue to be held in a consistent manner, targeting various governmental and societal segments. A training session was held on the CEDAW and its provisions for members of the Judiciary in December 2012, and community based trainings on CEDAW are ongoing. In June 2013, a group of female police officers were trained on gender issues and in August of the same year a follow-up session was organized together with male police officers. A capacity building session on GBV was held in December 2013 for Faith-based Organizations, which was the first workshop on the matter for this targeted audience ...

Para 42) Stereotypical attitudes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society remain, and need to be overcome in order to achieve gender equality in the public and private spheres. For instance, there is a need to increase the participation of men in child-raising and other domestic duties. Entrenched gender stereotypes can also lead to men and women specializing in specific skills and sectors, for instance in manufacturing and nursing professions.

Para 89) The review of the [Employment Act, 1995] includes the incorporation of the already practiced concept of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The review also aims to make the Act more progressive in its regulation of the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of gender disparities. The 'National Employment Policy' also promotes the principle of non-discrimination in the workplace, and provides that the Government shall promote equal remuneration for Seychellois and non-Seychellois for work of equal value.

Para 146) A helpline for the empowerment of women was set up by the NGO Women in Action and Solidarity. Working together with government agencies, the helpline provides information on job and entrepreneurship opportunities ...

UN Compilation:
Para 42) The CEDAW acknowledged the high level of participation of women in political and public life, with a high proportion of women Members of the Parliament (43.8 per cent) and civil servants. The Human Rights Committee expressed concern, however, that the number of women in decision-making positions still remained low in both political and public life, including in the National Assembly, the civil service and the judiciary ...

Para 48)The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women welcomed the results achieved with regard to de facto equality between girls and boys in the education sector, and noted the high level of education of girls and the high literacy rate of women ...

Para 49) The Special Rapporteur on education affirmed that policy measures and reforms had made it possible for Seychelles to meet the education-related Millennium Development Goals well before 2015; the emphasis on equality in education had significantly addressed differences in achievements based on gender and race and created a system which provided equal opportunity for all based on ability ...

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 23) JS1 affirmed that Seychellois women enjoyed a wide range of rights enshrined in national legislation and had a high level of representation in national institutions: the National Assembly was ranked second worldwide in terms of highest female members in its Parliament, without any affirmative action in place.