Estonia warmly welcomes the delegation of the Republic of Palau to the UPR’s 38th session.
Estonia notes with appreciation that Palau has taken several positive steps to implement previous UPR recommendations.
We commend Palau for acceding to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in 2019 and including trafficking in its Penal Code
We encourage the government of Palau to continue working on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, including by fully implementing all relevant laws, also on the prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings. We also encourage the Government to establish a comprehensive protection system that would address all cases of domestic violence, including child abuse.
While Estonia acknowledges the challenges Palau is facing, especially due to the implications of climate change and Covid-19 pandemic, we would like to make the following recommendations:
– raise the age of criminal responsibility;
– establish standard procedures for identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking;
– swiftly ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and its Optional Protocol (OP-CAT), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and other core human rights instruments;
– accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Estonia wishes you success in continuing the good work in the field of human rights.
Thank you!