Seychelles - Universal Periodic Review

Session reviewed: 38th session of the Universal Periodic Review

Date reviewed: May 10, 2021

Recommendation

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Canada applauds Seychelles on its continuous dedication to improving its human rights situation, notably for decriminalizing same-sex sexual conduct between consenting adults, establishing the National Human Rights Commission and passing the Domestic Violence Act.

Canada recommends that Seychelles:

1. Fully implement, enforce and resource the Domestic Violence Act (2020), ensuring the public is aware of its provisions and perpetrators of domestic violence are held accountable.
2. Strengthen legislative, policy and institutional measures to prevent sexual crimes against children by supporting thorough investigations of cases, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable, and providing victims with access to appropriate services.
3. Strengthen legislative, policy and institutional measures to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, men and boys, including reproductive health programmes for adolescents, and to ensure access to comprehensive health services, confidential counselling and support for pregnant adolescent girls.
4. Reinforce law enforcement mechanisms to ensure migrants are not subjected to mistreatment or are not victims of trafficking and that migrants’ rights violators are held accountable.

Canada welcomes the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission and encourages the expansion of its mandate to include issues of women’s empowerment and gender equality.