Madagascar - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 34, November 4-13, 2019
Recommendations by Canada

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Madagascar received 253 recommendations, of which 230 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 91%). Canada’s previous recommendations to Madagascar related to domestic and gender-based violence, women’s rights, freedom of the press, freedom of association, children’s rights, and education.

Madagascar is a state party to most major UN and international human rights instruments. Positive steps have been taken with regards to children’s rights and child marriage. A National Strategy has been adopted (Stratégie nationale de lutte contre le mariage des enfants), but implementation remains incomplete to this day, and child marriage rates in Madagascar have not significantly decreased.

Following Madagascar’s last UPR in 2014, a National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence (Stratégie nationale de lutte à la violence basée sur le genre) was launched in 2016. A legislative bill has also been drafted to address gender-based violence including domestic abuse, marital rape, sexual harassment, and will provide training for authorities to properly deal with violence against women. It has not yet been adopted, however.

While Madagascar adopted a Code of Media Communication in 2016, and amended a cybercriminality law, journalists, the media and civil society members are still not able to conduct their activities in a completely free and safe environment. In January 2019, a journalist was arrested on doubtful charges of violating state security. A month later, social media users were arrested for “insult to the Head of State”, and in September 2019, more journalists were arrested for spreading false news.

Recommendations

Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada welcomes Madagascar’s Stratégie nationale de lutte contre le mariage des enfants following awareness campaigns by civil society on children’s rights and child, early and forced marriage. We also welcome the development of national strategy to combat gender-based violence.

Canada recommends that Madagascar:

1. Accelerate implementation of the National Strategy to prevent child marriage, by allocating resources dedicated to projects that combat child marriage, conducting public awareness campaigns, in collaboration with religious/traditional authorities and civil society to facilitate lasting change.
2. Allocate adequate resources and implement the bill on fighting gender-based violence, in support of the National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence and its Action Plan.
3. Ensure that laws on defamation, contempt and slander are fully consistent with respect for the right to freedom of expression. Repeal the offence of insulting public officials.
4. Ensure all women and girls can access sexual and reproductive health information, services and education, including comprehensive sexuality education.

Canada has concerns regarding the current state of detention facilities and encourages Madagascar to make concerted efforts to reduce the number of prisoners in the facilities, improve infrastructure, and reduce health risks faced by prisoners.