VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 22, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The Foreign Affairs Department held a consultative workshop regarding the recommendations Seychelles received under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on the 22nd of March, 2016 at Care House, Victoria.
The UPR was established by the UN General Assembly in March 2006, with an ultimate goal to improve human rights on the ground through a peer review mechanism that allows for the assessment of human rights records of all UN States on an equal basis. During his remarks while chairing the workshop, Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Department, Ambassador Barry Faure, noted that the UPR “is an invaluable stock-taking exercise that allows us to take a critical but constructive look at ourselves, with the assistance of the UN, fellow States, Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions, allowing Seychelles to move forward with its fundamental aim of the full realization of human rights for all persons”.
On the 25th of January 2016, Seychelles participated in its second cycle review, where 150 recommendations were received from 60 States. Recommendations are suggestions made by UN Members States to enhance the human rights protection and promotion measures within the State under Review. Of the 150 recommendations received by Seychelles in its second cycle, it can either accept (in which case a commitment is made towards the implementation of the recommendation) or note (in which case the recommendation will not enjoy the support of the country and no commitment is made towards implementation) each recommendation. If there is a recommendation which has already been fully implemented, Seychelles can also accept the recommendation indicating its fulfillment of the same.
The consultative workshop allowed various stakeholders to discuss and take a position as to which recommendations Seychelles should accept or note. Given the breadth of human issues addressed in the recommendations, a wide range of stakeholders participated, both from governmental organizations and civil society.
The recommended positions will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for their approval, following which the Government of Seychelles will communicate its positions to the Human Rights Council at its 32nd session in June 2016.
