STATEMENT BY MALAYSIA
Review of the Comoros
18th Session of the UPR Working Group of the
Human Rights Council
27 January – 7 February 2014
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Mr. President,
Malaysia welcomes the delegation of the Union of the Comoros to the 18th Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council. We thank them for their presentation of the national report.
2. Malaysia welcomes the consultative approach adopted by the Comoros in the preparation of its national report, which includes the holding of a workshop facilitated by the Government, the ORR, OIF and the OHCHR. We note that progress has been made since the Comoros’ first UPR review, particularly on the inclusion of human rights standards in its national legislation.
3. Malaysia also notes positively the on-going efforts by the Comoros in improving the rights of women and children, and commends the major progress that it has achieved in stepping up its policy to combat child labour and increasing the number of children enrolled in school. We laud the Comoros’ seriousness in ensuring better access to education for all children and its efforts to eradicate illiteracy as outlined in the Comoros’ Interim Education Plan 2013-2015. We are also pleased that the Government had adopted specific measures to promote women’s rights, including their participation in decision-making bodies and the creation of the necessary platforms for the participation of women in business, politics and sustainable development.
4. We therefore recommend the Government to continue to intensify its efforts to further promote and protect women’s rights by allocating the necessary resources and to implement awareness-raising activities on the importance of women’s participation in the decision-making process, and to take measures to increase their participation in political and public life.
5. While progress has been made by the Comoros in the promotion and protection of human rights, my delegation notes that challenges still remain which could hinder the full enjoyment of human rights in the country, particularly due to the lack of capacity and financial resources. Malaysia hopes that the international community, including UN agencies and donors, would heed the Comoros’ call to assist the country in further fulfilling its human rights obligations to its citizens through technical and financial assistance, with the full participation of the country.
I thank you.
GENEVA
31 January 2014