UPR Sexual Rights Database

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UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

Categories of the types of information used during reviews

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Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 47051 - 47075 of 58130 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Uruguay

    Uruguay
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
    • Violence on the basis of sexual orientation
    • Violence on the basis of gender identity
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Implement training programs for the security forces so that crimes motivated by ... sexual orientation or identity, are adequately investigated.
    Explanation
    A Policy Framework on Combating Hate Crime, Hate Speech and Unfair Discrimination is at an advanced stage of finalisation. This is currently serving in the Top Structures of government where after it will be taken on an intensive national consultative process. Consequently these processes will inform national legislation which is expected to be promulgated within the 2013-2014 Parliamentary calendar. The development of this policy integrates international norms and standards.
    Implementation
    National Report Annex:
    FULL IMPLEMENTATION

    In order to improve handling of rape cases by Police the SAPS makes use of specialized investigative units called Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS). FCS investigators receive specialised training in dealing with sexual offences investigations and cases involving children addition to training as investigators. SAPS has developed the Human Rights in Policing Learning Programmes and has been conducting training on same from 1998 to all law enforcement officials.

    The SAPS has developed National Instructions on the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act in order to provide clear policy directives for the police in support of members to improve service delivery to victims. The NPA (facilitated by SOCA), in line with Act 32 of 2007 also developed directives for prosecutors on how best to deal with sexual offences in the criminal justice system.

    Capacity building and training of the SAPS members is an on-going process commencing in basic training. The SAPS engages in public awareness and education campaigns with the purpose of creating a greater awareness of the relevant legislation and government‘s commitment to eradicating violence.

    A number of new policy frameworks were also introduced and implemented, including the Child Justice National Policy Framework, the Restorative Justice National Policy Framework (including forming linkages with traditional justice), the Social Crime Prevention Strategy and the Diversion Accreditation Framework. Government has also adopted a Plan of Action to combat violence against women and children.

    Nationally, there are 176 established FCS units attached to all police clusters within SAPS. This has resulted in lengthy convictions, achieved through the dedicated work of detectives and prosecutors.

    Resourcing and establishing victim-friendly rooms at police service points are on-going. There are currently more than 900 Victim Friendly Facilities rendering victim support services in place and it is envisaged that this will be rolled out to all police stations.

    South Africa has dedicated sexual offences courts. These dedicated services use intermediaries, audio-visual equipment and specialised training, among other measures. The NPA’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit developed comprehensive training manuals which are updated annually to be in line with the latest developments in law for specialist prosecutors and also an integrated training manual for stakeholders at our TCCs.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Australia

    Australia
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    PIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Implement the Maternal Child and Women's Health Strategy (2009-14) and develop sustained measures to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls, who are disproportionately affected.
    Explanation
    The government entered into a partnership on 9 August 2011, known as MDGs Acceleration Framework (MAF) to specifically focus on those MDGs presenting challenges of attainment by 2015. These include MDGs 4, 5 and 6. This partnership has already begun to show signs of positive trajectory. South Africa has submitted progress reports to the United Nations in 2005 and 2010 outlining the country's consolidated achievements towards attaining the MDGs. A National Programme involving all multi-stakeholders was initiated on 21 June 2012 in national preparation for the 3rd and last MDGs report to the UN prior to 2015.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 47) To deal with the challenges of HIV and the wide-ranging impacts of AIDS, the Government has adopted a multi-sectoral approach. During 2011, the South African National AIDS Council, in which Government, business, labour and civil society are represented, reviewed the implementation of these strategic plans and developed a comprehensive prevention, care and treatment programme for the next five-year plan (for the period 2012–2016).

    Para 48) South Africa has the largest ARV therapy programme in the world, today. At the end of March 2016, there were 3 407 336 clients remaining on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Prevention is the mainstay of efforts to combat HIV and AIDS. Since the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign was introduced in 2010, over 44 million people have been tested. A total of 11,898,308 people between the ages of 15 and 49 years were tested, exceeding the annual target of 10 million for the financial year 2015/16.

    National Report Annex:
    PARTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

    Despite expansion of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, The National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD) was established to monitor and recommend solutions to reduce maternal mortality. The Committee is responsible for investigating every maternal death, with respect to primary and final causes of death, and the care that was given. Recommendations for the care of pregnant mothers are then made in a report provided to the Minister of Health. Strategies for reducing maternal mortality are made on the basis of this report.

    By 2010, South Africa had made significant progress in achieving universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS by those who need it. The proportion of eligible adults and children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) leapt from 58.3% in 2010, to 75.2% in 2011 and ART coverage for HIV positive pregnant women also leapt from 87.3% to 99%. In 2013, 2.3 million South Africans were on antiretroviral treatment making it the largest programme in the world.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Ukraine

    Ukraine
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    CIS
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ratify the OP-CRC-IC and the OP-ICESCR.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Nepal

    Nepal
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue measures to prevent HIV infections and ensure infected persons' access to affordable medicines.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Azerbaijan

    Azerbaijan
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    OIC
    CIS
    Issue:
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Accelerate its efforts to promote and create necessary conditions for the full enjoyment of human rights by women, in particular for vulnerable women across the country.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Lesotho

    Lesotho
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Redouble efforts to combat domestic violence against women and children.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Syria

    Syria
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    AL
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Exert further efforts to address violence against women and femicide, in implementation of the Presidential Summit Declaration issued in 2019 and the National Strategic Plan to Prevent Gender based Violence and Femicide 2020-2030.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Czechia

    Czechia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take further steps to implement the National strategic plan to combat gender based violence and femicide, including by providing adequate financial support to shelters for survivors.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Panama

    Panama
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Question
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    What legislative and policy measures are being implemented to guarantee non-discrimination against persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS and older persons?
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    Additionally, and with a view to enhancing its promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the new government established, among others: a) a new Department of Women, Children & People with Disabilities to promote, facilitate, coordinate and monitor the realization of the rights of women, children and people with disabilities ... [Para 5]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CEDAW called upon South Africa to give priority attention to the results of the study conducted by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, review South Africa's multi-sectoral action plan to combat violence against women, and expeditiously adopt comprehensive measures to better address such violence. [Para 29]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • Trafficking in women and / or girls
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    JS7 highlighted that South Africa had been identified as a source, transit and destination country for the trafficking of children, especially for sexual purposes. JS1 noted that although the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill had been tabled in 2010 it had not yet been enacted. JS1 recommended that the Government enact the Bill by the end of 2012. [Para 44]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    1st session, April 2008
    Status:
    No Response
    Contents:
    Concrete measures be taken to improve the handling by police of rape cases and to curb rates of violence, particularly against women and girls.
    Explanation
    Most of the recommendations have already been implemented through national legislation and policy programmes. The Department of Social Development is in charge of implementing Social Development Programmes, which among others provides for social security and safety nets and other important services such as social grants for persons living with HIV and AIDS and other debilitating illnesses.
    Implementation
    National Report Annex 1:
    The SAPS has re-established the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in order to provide specialized investigative capacity on matters that include rape and other sexual offences against children.

    As far as progress is concerned, the SAPS developed National Instructions for Children in Need of Care and Protection (3/2010) in order to provide clear directives to police officials on the implementation of the Children's Act. The police have powers to remove a child in need of care and protection and in need of immediate emergency protection from a suspected abusive environment and must arrange for the placement of the in alternative care. "Alternative care" includes a Child and Youth Care Centre and the care of a responsible adult. According to a Constitutional Court judgment delivered on 11th January 2012, the removal and placement of a child must always be subject to subsequent review or confirmation by a court.

    Capacity Building and training of the SAPS members is an ongoing process commencing in basic training.

    The SAPS engages in public awareness and education campaigns with the purpose of creating a greater awareness of the relevant legislation and government's commitment to eradicating violence against women and children. These awareness campaigns have, over the years, encouraged communities to report these crimes to the police and also compelled the police to improve the policing of these crimes.

    The SAPS has developed National Instructions on the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act in order to provide clear policy directives for the police in support of members to improve service delivery to victims.

    Following the enactment of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act in 2007, progress was made in addressing violence against women. We developed registers aimed at protecting women and children against sexual offences and abuse (known as the Sexual Offenders Register and the Child Abuse Register). The registers were established by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 37 of 2007 and the Children's Act, 2005 respectively. Data on the Child Abuse register will enable employers to vet applications and ensure that convicted child abusers (including sex offenders) are not employed into positions where they are in contact with children. Similarly data on the Sexual Offences register will be drawn from recorded convictions of sexual offenders to include situations where victims are adult women.

    In order to improve handling of rape cases by Police the SAPS makes use of specialized investigative units called Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units.
    All FCS Units became fully operational by the 1 April 2011. The units were established in terms of the Policing Cluster Model at 176 Clusters country wide. The purpose of the FCS is to effectively and efficiently manage the prevention, combating and investigation of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences. FCS investigators receive specialised training in dealing with sexual offences investigations and cases involving children addition to training as investigators.

  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Libya

    Libya
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    AL
    Issue:
    • Sexually transmitted infections
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue its efforts in the fight against HIV by adopting a comprehensive national policy to deal with the epidemic and diseases that are sexually transmitted and tuberculosis
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Argentina

    Argentina
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take urgent measures to repeal laws that discriminate against women in matters such as marriage and family relations
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Sex work / "prostitution"
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    CESCR expressed concern that sex workers did not enjoy the rights to work, health, and trade unions, and were exposed to harassment, arbitrary arrest, detention and coercion by the police owing to the criminalization of the sale of sex. The Committee recommended that South Africa consider decriminalizing the sale of sex, ..., provide victim support, and provide alternative livelihood opportunities. [Para 29]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Maldives

    Maldives
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Empowerment of women
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Expedite the enactment of the proposed Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill
    Explanation
    Recommendation noted.
    ‘Noted’ recommendations are those which South Africa is in the process of considering and cannot commit to at this stage.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    JS8 and JS9 recommended collecting disaggregated data on all forms of violence against women. JS9 recommended to ensure Plan funding, implement the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, Domestic Violence Amendment Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act Amendment Act and orient justice system officers and raise community awareness on the new laws. JS8 recommended allocating a budget to implement the Domestic Violence Act. [Para 53]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    JS7 recommended that the Government ban genital surgery on intersex children, ensure sanctions for healthcare providers conducting such interventions without patient consent, and mandate training on informed consent, bodily integrity, and bodily diversity. [Para 72]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Liechtenstein

    Liechtenstein
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Issue:
    • Birth registration
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Review and amend all legislation and regulations relevant to birth registration and nationality to ensure their full conformity with the CRC
    Explanation
    Recommendation noted.
    ‘Noted’ recommendations are those which South Africa is in the process of considering and cannot commit to at this stage.
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    The Government should (...) allocate financial resources to establish a monitoring mechanism in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). [Para 5]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Birth registration
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned that the existence of administrative and practical obstacles to obtaining birth registration, including punitive measures for late registration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, might have negative and discriminatory impacts. It was also concerned that the South African Citizenship Act set disproportionately strict conditions for granting nationality to certain groups of children and that there were reportedly many children who had either migrated to or had been born in South Africa who were undocumented and/or whose births had not been registered. Noting target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee recommended that South Africa review and amend all legislation and regulations relevant to birth registration and nationality to ensure their full conformity with the CRC. [Para 17]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    It noted that young girls and women had been disproportionally affected by HIV. [Para 44; UNCT]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Sex work / "prostitution"
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    The Special Rapporteur noted that the criminalization of prostitution had driven women in prostitution underground, created obstacles to access to services and made them very vulnerable to violence, human rights violations and corruption. The Special Rapporteur recommended that South Africa review relevant legislation and regulations to decriminalize women in prostitution and take a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue. [Para 56]
  • State Under Review:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Abortion
    • Empowerment of women
    • Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    JS5 stated that the Government should increase sensitization on the dangers of unsafe abortions, tackle the stigma associated with abortion and empower women and girls by informing them of their right to seek and receive reproductive healthcare services, including abortion, through public advocacy and education programmes. [Para 60]

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