2024 Oral Statements to the Human Rights Council on the Outcomes of the UPR
In July 2023, The Advocates for Human Rights, along with partner organizations, submitted Universal Periodic Review (UPR) stakeholder reports for Belize, Jordan, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia on the abolition of the death penalty, as well as for Mexico on gender-based violence and LGBTIQ+ rights. A year later, this past July, The Advocates and partnering organizations delivered oral statements on the outcomes of those reviews at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council. Please see below for a brief overview of our statements delivered:
Belize
The Advocates for Human Rights and The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty commend Belize for its commitment to maintain a de facto moratorium on the death penalty; we are disappointed, however, that Belize noted 16 recommendations to adopt a formal moratorium. We urge Belize to formalize the moratorium on executions, as well as to address gender biases in its criminal justice system. Additionally, Belize's support of Spain's recommendation to improve police and prison standards is a step toward ensuring account ability for use of force by the police. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube and UN Web TV.
Jordan
The Advocates for Human Rights and The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty are disappointed that Jordan has neither abolished the death penalty nor maintained a moratorium on executions and continues to apply the death penalty to crimes beyond the ICCPR's threshold of the "most serious." We call for limiting capital punishment to the "most serious" crimes and implementing a moratorium on executions. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube and UN Web TV.
Mexico
The Advocates welcomes Mexico's progress in recognizing same-sex marriage and accepting recommendations related to the investigation of crimes perpetrated against victims based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite the progress, systemic violence against LGBTI+ individuals still persists, often involving organized crime and complicity of law enforcement. We strongly push Mexico to increase accountability and to protect LGBTI+ people from systemic violence. We further urge Mexico to increase accountability for gender-based crimes and to fully implement the 2007 General Law on Women's Access to Life Free of Violence to ensure that women victims of violence have access to specialized assistance and services. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube and UN Web TV.
Nigeria
The Advocates, Avocats Sans Frontières France, and The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty are dismayed that Nigeria noted all 35 recommendations concerning the death penalty without explanation, including those to even consider a moratorium on executions. We call for Nigeria to abolish the mandatory death penalty for murder, and to ensure that all sentencing courts take full account of any mitigating factors related to women defendants' backgrounds. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube and UN Web TV.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has executed at least83 people since early 2024, including those convicted of drug-related offenses. Despite official claims by Saudi Arabia's delegation that the death penalty is only reserved for the most serious crimes, organizations have documented 70 cases where detainees are facing death sentences for charges related to freedom of expression, protesting, and other legitimate rights. The Advocates for Human Rights ,European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, and The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty call for the UPR process to unveil the reality of human rights conditions on the ground and push Saudi Arabia to fulfill its international commitments. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube and UN Web TV.
Malaysia
It is alarming that Malaysia noted all the recommendations regarding the death penalty in this cycle, especially considering that, in the last cycle of the UPR, Malaysia supported 12 of the 19 recommendations to abolish the death penalty. Despite abolishing the mandatory death penalty in 2023, The Advocates for Human Rights, the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, and The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty are concerned that the death penalty remains a discretionary option for punishment. In addition to abolishing the death penalty, we urge Malaysia to improve the conditions for women on death row and establish safeguards against unjust sentencing. Read our stakeholder report and watch our oral statement on Youtube.
For more information, please see The Advocates’ Youtube channel or view the statements on UN Web TV.
