Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 22nd Session
Universal Periodic Review of Mongolia
Australian Statement
It is twenty-five years since Mongolia’s first democratic parliamentary elections and Australia applauds Mongolia’s progress as a robust democracy with significant protection for human rights. Australia also commends Mongolia on the seriousness with which it responded to the first UPR’s recommendations, including by taking steps towards ratifying international treaties and launching significant legal and judicial reform.
Australia particularly welcomes Mongolia’s accession to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and welcomes President Elbegdorj’s implementation of a moratorium on capital punishment. Noting that a revised draft of the Criminal Code abandoning capital punishment is before the Mongolian Parliament, Australia recommends that Mongolia adopts legislation to explicitly abolish the death penalty.
Australia welcomed the adoption of the Law on the National Human Rights Commission in 2007. An effective Commission is central to promoting and protecting human rights in Mongolia. Australia recommends that Mongolia provides greater support to the National Human Rights Commission to ensure its independence.
While Australia welcomed Mongolia’s Law to Combat Domestic Violence, we note some gaps and challenges in implementation. Australia recommends the passage of the draft domestic violence legislation before Parliament to criminalise domestic violence, better protect victims and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.