Andorra - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 36, November 5, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

Thank you, Madam President.
Canada welcomes the actions taken by Andorra to advance human rights, including to improve and protect the well-being of children and promote equality of opportunity in education.
Canada recommends that Andorra:

1. Amend article 108 of its Penal Code to decriminalize abortion.
2. Implement domestic legislation to ensure recognition of asylum seekers and refugees consistent with international law and standards.
3. Provide refugees and asylum seekers with equal access to accurate information, interpretation services, legal aid, humanitarian assistance, and judicial remedies.
4. Ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Background

Andorra is a strong democracy, with human rights and fundamental freedoms firmly protected by the constitution of 1993. It has ratified five of the seven “core” UN human rights treaties, including those focused on promoting the rights of children and women, promoting civil and political rights, fighting against all forms of discrimination, and torture.
Andorra has taken many steps to protect and improve the well-being of children: it has made significant investments in education and health care. Despite many positive steps, important challenges remain with respect to women’s rights in Andorra. A wide gender pay gap persists and adversely affects women throughout their working lives. There is also a long, mandatory waiting period (from one to three years) before being able to seek a divorce. Andorra also remains one of the few countries in Europe where abortion is completely prohibited, with penalties for both doctors who perform and women who undergo the procedure.
Another challenge is Andorra’s lack of domestic legislation on asylum seekers and refugees, including measures to protect unaccompanied and refugee children. While Andorra provides temporary protection and services to refugees and asylum seekers, there is currently no law allowing the government to grant asylum or refugee status. In addition, there is a lack of available information on measures taken to protect asylum seekers from refoulement, as well as on the types of services and humanitarian aid made available to asylum seekers.