Gabon - Universal Periodic Review

Session reviewed: 42^nd session of the Universal Periodic Review
Date reviewed: January 23, 2023

Recommendation

Canada congratulates Gabon for the changes made to its criminal code to decriminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. Canada also applauds the measures taken by Gabon to promote women’s rights and reduce gender-based violence, including the changes made to its criminal code to reduce the impact of violence against women.

Canada recommends that the Gabonese government:

1. take proactive measures to prevent discrimination against LGBTQI+ people to ensure that the decriminalization process is effective
2. continue its work of improving the operation of its justice and penitentiary services, particularly to improve its prison conditions and ensure prisoners receive adequate nutrition, ventilation and sanitation services
3. take necessary measures, particularly by ensuring the independence of media regulatory bodies, to ensure freedom of expression, including that of members of the press and of other media
4. take necessary measures to ensure freedom of association and assembly

We congratulate Gabon for its progress on human rights, and we invite it to share with members its achievements and lessons learned from its participation in the Universal Periodic Review.