Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 21st Session
Universal Periodic Review of Guyana
Statement by Australia
28 January 2015
Australia welcomes the steps Guyana has taken in September 2014 to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Australia also welcomes Guyana’s accession to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
Australia remains concerned that Guyana has not implemented its National Domestic Violence Policy designed to provide a multi-sectoral response to domestic and sexual violence against women. Australia recommends Guyana make the necessary constitutional and legislative amendments to implement its National Domestic Violence Policy with a view to ending violence against women and girls.
Australia recommends Guyana give a high priority to the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Australia also notes with concern that Guyana rejected recommendations to establish a formal moratorium on the death penalty leading to its eventual abolition. As a first step, Australia recommends Guyana reduce the number of crimes to which the death penalty can be imposed. Australia further recommends Guyana establish a formal moratorium on the death penalty with a view to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.