Trinidad and Tobago - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 39, November 9, 2021
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

Thank you, Madam President.

Canada welcomes the positive steps taken by Trinidad and Tobago to implement recommendations made in previous cycles of this process and its ongoing commitment to strengthen and improve human rights nationally.

Canada recommends Trinidad and Tobago:

1. Take stronger measures to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, including providing adequate financial, staffing and other technical support for the full implementation of the Gender-based Violence Unit.
2. Implement policies and programs to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
3. Take further measures to improve prison infrastructure and the system for determining the security classification of inmates.
4. Develop national legislation on refugees that aligns with existing international standards, and, in the interim, implement the existing National Policy on asylum and refugees by addressing smuggling and trafficking and putting in place a refugee determination system.

Canada recognizes Trinidad and Tobago's efforts to address Venezuelan migration and reiterates the importance of ensuring refugees have access to a range of legal and physical protections, as well as access to services including health services, quality education and employment opportunities. We stand ready to work in partnership with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on these issues.  

Background

Trinidad and Tobago has a positive track record in advancing human rights, including the right to freedom of thought and religion, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to assembly, education and health, among others. While important advances have been made to promote and protect human rights in Trinidad and Tobago, work remains to be done. Despite efforts from the Government to address gender-based discrimination and violence, they continue to be a serious and on-going problem.

According to Amnesty International, women and girls in need of protection are at a particular risk of a spectrum of violence, which includes trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence. There continues to be inadequate protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit and intersex persons (LGBTI). Despite progress in decriminalizing same-sex sexual activity in Trinidad and Tobago, there are no legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Further, Trinidad and Tobago does not recognize same sex relationships, marriage or unions; same-sex couples are unable to legally adopt.

Reports indicate that all prison facilities in Trinidad and Tobago are overcrowded and have insufficient standards of light, sanitation, and ventilation. Intake assessments to determine correctional needs of the offender are also lacking, as is a system to determine the security classification of inmates.

According to reports by non-governmental organizations, in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago granted an estimated 16,500 Venezuelans temporary visas and the right to work in a one-off "amnesty." However, as of August 2020, over 24,000 Venezuelans were hosted in Trinidad and Tobago, and as of September 2020, 14,241 had lodged asylum claims, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In March 2021, the authorities allowed those previously registered to re-register, but did not open a new regularization process, which has left many Venezuelan migrants without protection and at risk of detention, deportation, trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence.