UPR Sexual Rights Database

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UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

Categories of the types of information used during reviews

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Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 45401 - 45425 of 58160 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Armenia

    Armenia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    CIS
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Sexual abuse
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take the necessary steps to combat girls' sexual abuse, in particular at school.
    Explanation
    We continue to reaffirm our commitment to improve human rights.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 28) Launched in December 2018, the Office of the First Lady led a rigorous campaign titled ‘Hands Off Our Girls’. As part of a national response against sexual and gender-based violence and related violations in the country, the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 was amended. Also, the first ‘Sexual Offences Model Court’ has been set up and launched on 24 July 2020 to try sexual violence offenders. In further fulfilment of the Government’s mandate and its determination to address this heinous crime, the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has established a team to process speedy trial of cases involving sexual and gender-based violence and related violations. Also, State Counsel have been instructed to oppose bail from perpetrators of sexual offences and to ensure that convicted sex offenders do not benefit from the power of the prerogative of mercy.
    Para 29) There has been a sexual amendment (Amendment) Act, 2019. The Act increases the punishment for conviction of rape or sexual offences of minors. Before this, there was a state of emergency on rape and other offences in 2019.
    Para 40) As demonstrated in the national reports Sierra Leone submitted to the First and Second Cycle reviews, significant work has been undertaken, including the passing of the undermentioned instruments, to implement many of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and to provide legislative safeguards for human rights: … • The Sexual Offences Act 2012; as amended by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019;

    UN Compilation:
    Para 56) The United Nations country team remained concerned over the continuous prevalence of rape and other forms of sexual violence, including against children, and about the prolonged investigation and trial of cases reported to the police.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 34) JS2 and JS3 welcomed that the Sexual Offenses Act was amended in 2019 to include additional sexual crimes and increased penalties for perpetrators of sexual violence against children. JS2 also welcomed the establishment of the Family Support Unit of the Police; the free toll line, the One-Stop-Centres, and related awareness raising campaigns. However, the organisations highlighted that significant issues should still to be addressed, such as rape, commercial child sexual exploitation.
    Para 35) CUMG-SL stated that, while policies have been developed to combat sexual abuse against girls in school, those policies were challenged by inadequate support to ensure effective implementation.
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Madagascar

    Madagascar
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Strengthen all policies to bolster basic education, including education for girls ...
    Explanation
    We are convinced that building a strong economy and a democratic and politically stable society require capable and educated citizens. We will continue to expand the boundaries of education as part of our democratic development and post-Ebola future.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 30) According to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) assessment report of 2020, Sierra Leone has registered remarkable strides in the improvement of policies with human rights implications. The policies calculated in percentage terms are as follows: … completion of primary education by girls, 68% …

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 59) CUMG-SL noted that payment of tuition fees was a major hindrance to school completion rate in the country, especially for girls …
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... TCC recommended further consideration of alternative steps to ensure greater numbers of women candidates ... [Para 54]
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... The CEDAW recommended that Sierra Leone ensure the full enforcement of ... the 2012 Sexual Offences Act ... [Para 32]
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The CEDAW and the Human Rights Committee noted with concern the very high maternal mortality rate. The CEDAW urged Sierra Leone to facilitate women's access to affordable health care, reduce maternal mortality, address its causes and increase the number of skilled health-care personnel, in particular in rural areas. [Para 63]
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Somalia

    Somalia
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    AL
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Promote and protect the rights of the child, by providing the necessary support to the National Commission for Children and also by increasing the budget allocated to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Female genital mutilation / cutting
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The United Nations country team recommended increasing efforts to fully eliminate female genital mutilation by enacting and enforcing legislation that prohibited that practice in all its forms, and carrying out awareness-raising campaigns and a national debate on the harmful effects of the practice on girls, women and wider society. The CRC urged Sierra Leone to continue to fight, with the assistance of former female practitioners of female genital mutilation, to eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation, and accelerate efforts and programmes to sensitize and assist practitioners of female genital mutilation to find alternative sources of income and encourage them to abandon the practice. [Para 22]
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Right to health
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    JS3 recommended that Sierra Leone, in line with the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules), develop gender-specific alternatives to custodial measures. JS1, JS4 and JS8 recommended increasing efforts to improve detention conditions, including by allocating adequate resources to ensure compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules; and reducing overcrowding in prisons by releasing pregnant women, women with children, elderly prisoners and those led in pre-trial detention for minor offences. The organizations also recommended providing for women’s specific physical and mental health needs, including gynaecological care; ensuring that women in prison can work and actively participate in their reintegration, and providing them with appropriate educational and training programmes to improve their employment prospects. [Para 30]
  • State Under Review:

    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CC recommended the adoption of the Gender Equality Bill and reducing the candidate registration fees to support greater gender equality in politics. It also encouraged political parties to strengthen internal processes to nominate women for office. CUMG-SL recommended to scale up the 30% quota implementation of women inclusion in decision making. [Para 63]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Denmark

    Denmark
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Question
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    What is the Government’s position on the continued existence in Singapore of practices of so-called “conversion therapy” against LGBTI persons, and under what circumstances would the Government seek to ban such practices?
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    [CEDAW] recommended that the State guarantee the equal rights of women in all matters of inheritance and provide for the equal choice of adjudication between religious and civil law regimes. [Para 58]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    JS3 recommended that the Government develop a National Action Plan to specifically address LGBT+ bullying and mental health in schools, in collaboration with the LGBT+ community and healthcare organisations, to include clear reporting processes for victims. [Para 102]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CRC recommended that the State establish adequate and coordinated mechanisms to identify and protect child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation and that it strengthen the capacity of police officers, border guards and social workers to identify and protect child victims. [Para 50]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Sweden

    Sweden
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Become a party to the ICCPR and its OPs.
    Explanation
    Noted. About a quarter of the recommendations that we noted relate to the ratification of international human rights treaties. Singapore takes our treaty obligations seriously and engages actively with the relevant treaty bodies. We also have a process under our Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights to actively review Singapore's ability to ratify additional human rights treaties. Since we cannot prejudge the outcome of the review process, we are unable to commit ourselves to ratifying any of these specific treaties at this time, apart from the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OP-CRC-SC), for which a review has already been completed. While Singapore may not be party to a particular human rights treaty yet, it does not mean that our outcomes are not already fully or largely in compliance with its objectives.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Czechia

    Czechia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Ratify the ICCPR and ICESCR ...
    Explanation
    Noted. About a quarter of the recommendations that we noted relate to the ratification of international human rights treaties. Singapore takes our treaty obligations seriously and engages actively with the relevant treaty bodies. We also have a process under our Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights to actively review Singapore's ability to ratify additional human rights treaties. Since we cannot prejudge the outcome of the review process, we are unable to commit ourselves to ratifying any of these specific treaties at this time, apart from the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OP-CRC-SC), for which a review has already been completed. While Singapore may not be party to a particular human rights treaty yet, it does not mean that our outcomes are not already fully or largely in compliance with its objectives.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Greece

    Greece
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    OIF
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Place high priority on the full incorporation of the CEDAW into the domestic legal system.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 16) The Inter-Ministry Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) monitors the implementation of Singapore’s CEDAW obligations. The CEDAW Committee considered Singapore’s fifth periodic report (CEDAW/C/SGP/5) in 2017. In 2020, Singapore launched the Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development, a national conversation series to gather feedback from thousands of Singaporeans on issues concerning women at home, at work, in schools, and in the community. The Conversations will culminate in a White Paper to be submitted to Parliament in 2021, with recommendations and a roadmap to further advance women’s protection, interests, and development in Singapore.
    Para 19) Islamic law is applied for certain religious and personal matters pertaining to Muslims in Singapore. The application of Islamic law in Singapore takes into account evolving societal contexts and norms. For instance, in May 2019, the fatwa (religious ruling) on joint tenancy was revised to recognise joint tenancy contracts as religiously valid, without the need for additional documents to effect the right of survivorship. This protects Muslim widows, in particular, from financial distress and uncertainty.

    UN Compilation:
    Para 21) The Independent Expert on older persons noted that although the Constitution guaranteed equality for all persons, it did not explicitly recognize equality on the basis of sex.
    Para 75) The Independent Expert on older persons noted the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men within the family and in society at large. She stated that such stereotypes were not only a root cause of violence against women in the private and public spheres, but also placed women in a disadvantaged position, including in the labour market.

  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Nicaragua

    Nicaragua
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Empowerment of women
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue ensuring the rights of women and girls through their empowerment and participation in society.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 17) Increasing participation. Singapore actively supports women’s participation in politics and in public service. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, took office. In 2020, 28 out of 95 Members of Parliament (29%) were women, greater than the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s world average of 24.5%. Currently, we have nine women out of 37 political office-holders. Women also make up 53% of the Public Service (as of 2019). The Council for Board Diversity, formed in January 2019, promotes greater representation of women on boards of listed companies, statutory boards, and non-profit organisations.
    Para 18) Support for women in the society and family. Many women continue to shoulder many household and caregiving responsibilities. We have continued to enhance measures to promote sharing of domestic and family responsibilities, such as flexible work arrangements (FWAs). From 2018 to 2020, we committed more than S$200 million (US$152 million) in financial grants and developed practical guides to support employers in implementing and sustaining FWAs. Since 2017, fathers have enjoyed two weeks of paid paternity leave and can share up to four weeks of their spouses’ maternity leave. Under the national movement, “Dads for Life”, we have rolled out initiatives, such as “Dads@School”, to promote active fathering. Since 2017, single mothers also enjoy the same infant care and childcare subsidies and maternity leave as married mothers.
    Para 122) … Taking stock of our progress against international measures, Singapore ranks: … (f) 12th for gender equality in the 2019 UN Gender Inequality Index.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 107) MARUAH stated that women in Singapore were still under-represented politically and in the workforce, and recommended that the Government actively push for gender parity.
    Para 108) JS4 stated that Singapore did not have any policies that prohibited gender-based discrimination at the workplace.
    Para 109) JS6 stated that women were paid less than men for similar work performed, and that sectors where women were concentrated were often lowly-paid. Gender discrimination and the gender wage gap affected women’s retirement savings.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Polygamy
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    JS3 noted that the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) permitted a Muslim man to enter into polygamous marriages of up to 4 living wives at any point in time without any legal requirement to obtain consent from the first wife. Unless specifically provided for in the initial marriage contract, a husband's polygamy is not recognized as a valid ground of divorce available to the wife. [Para 36]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... Encouraged Singapore to elevate the status of the national machinery for the advancement of women, to strengthen its mandate and to provide the necessary resources. [Para 11; CEDAW]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Brazil

    Brazil
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Ratify the ICESCR.
    Explanation
    Noted. We are unable to commit to ratifying any further treaties at this point. While Singapore may not be party to a particular human rights treaty yet, our outcomes are already fully or largely in compliance with its objectives.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Slovakia

    Slovakia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Consider ratifying the ICESCR.
    Explanation
    Singapore takes our treaty obligations seriously and we have a process under our IMC-HR to actively review our ability to ratify additional human rights treaties.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Greece

    Greece
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Sexual harassment
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure that victims of sexual harassment in the workplace have access to effective complaints procedures, protection measures and recourse to remedies.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Botswana

    Botswana
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Strengthen measures against trafficking, including investigating and identifying child victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking, and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.
    Explanation
    Singapore enacted the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) in 2015 to specifically combat trafficking in persons (TIP). The definition of TIP in the Act is aligned to that under the UN TIP Protocol.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Georgia

    Georgia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take further measures in advancing women’s protection, interests, and development.
    Explanation
    Singapore’s approach to gender equality is founded on the principle of meritocracy where women in Singapore participate fully and equally in all spheres of life and at all levels. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, was elected into office.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Argentina

    Argentina
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Adopt measures to criminalize all forms of sexual violence against women.
    Explanation
    Singapore’s approach to gender equality is founded on the principle of meritocracy where women in Singapore participate fully and equally in all spheres of life and at all levels. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, was elected into office.

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