Comoros - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 32, January 25, 2019
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Canada welcomes constitutional guarantees respecting human rights and equality before the law without distinction as to race, sex or religion. In particular, Canada commends steps to increase the active participation of women in political life, notably through the Act on measures to further the advancement of women to appointed and elected office as adopted unanimously by the Assembly of the Union in June 2017.

Canada recommends that Comoros:

1. Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). 
2. Ensure inclusive consultation on constitutional reform, and allow peaceful demonstrations or assemblies as well as an open media, without the fear of arbitrary or violent arrests.
3. Adopt measures to better protect people of all religions and beliefs and enable them to practise their faith openly without risking discrimination.

Canada regrets the violence related to the referendum of July 30, 2018 and is concerned that the Constitutional Court has been abolished. All parties involved must uphold the rule of law and human rights to ensure national unity.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-governmental organization that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Comoros received 202 recommendations, of which 186 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 92%). Canada’s previous recommendations to Comoros were related to discrimination and gender equality, including steps to increase the active participation of women in political and public life.

Comoros has not acceded to some core international human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Political instability and inter-island tensions were reduced with the 2001 constitution, which limited presidential terms to five-years rotating among the three islands (Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli). A referendum held in July 2018 – boycotted by the opposition – approved constitutional reforms which will allow the current president to seek re-election in 2019, and potentially in 2024. The three posts of vice-president were abolished, as was the Constitutional Court. These constitutional reforms increased inter-island tensions and spurred violent protests. The constitution declares Sunni Islam as the state religion.

Although steps have been taken to improve the political participation of women, they remain underrepresented with only one woman elected to the Assembly of the Union in 2015. In accordance with civil laws, women have equal inheritance rights. This is complicated in practice by the concurrent application of Islamic law which limits gender equality. Only men have the right to transmit their Comorian nationality to their foreign spouses. Sexual violence and workplace harassment are believed to be widespread, but are rarely reported.