UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 2) The Government remains committed and fully engaged towards the review, reform and enhancement of existing legislation, and moving towards the enactment of new laws so as to remain in the forefront of advocating for the advancement of human rights practices. Some new pieces of legislation and amendments enacted since the last review include interalia: … (l) The ‘Domestic Violence Act, 2020’ which prohibits acts of violence in the domestic context, provides for protection of aggrieved persons, provides for penalties, makes provision for services for aggrieved persons and perpetrators of domestic violence, and other related matters.
Para 30) The Government has replaced the previous Family ‘Violence (Protection of Victims) Act’ with a new ‘Domestic Violence Act’, 2020. The Act condemns domestic violence, provides for protection of victims, and covers a wide range of acts that amount to domestic violence such as physical, verbal or psychological, and economic abuse. The Act caters for the duties of the police, social services, as well as other services that provide relief to victims, and makes provision for continued training of service providers. Whilst the Act makes provisions for the punishment of perpetrators of domestic violence, it also provides for their rehabilitation.
Para 31) The CLRC has also contributed to the evaluation of Seychelles laws in the context of gender based violence and child protection by drawing from evidence on domestic practices and inputs, and equate them with international and regional norms. It found that whilst the Penal Code provides certain protection against sexual offences for both women and children, laws have to be introduced to give full effect to the protection. Subsequently, a range of new offences will be recommended in relation to rape such as sexual grooming, the use of intimate images and sexual communication with children through social media and other digital platforms. Furthermore, harassment offences such as cat calling, flashing, blackmail and more are also to become punishable by law under the proposed legislation.

UN Compilation:
Para 59) … UNHCR welcomed the approval and entry into force of the Domestic Violence Act 2020.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 14) SHRC noted that in 2020 Seychelles enacted the Domestic Violence Act and that the legislation had been developed with the participation of civil society. However, SHRC stated that the legislation had not yet become operational.

National Report:
Para 89) The review of the [Employment Act, 1995] includes the incorporation of the already practiced concept of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The review also aims to make the Act more progressive in its regulation of the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of gender disparities. The 'National Employment Policy' also promotes the principle of non-discrimination in the workplace, and provides that the Government shall promote equal remuneration for Seychellois and non-Seychellois for work of equal value.

UN Compilation:
Para 49) The Special Rapporteur on education affirmed that policy measures and reforms had made it possible for Seychelles to meet the education-related Millennium Development Goals well before 2015; the emphasis on equality in education had significantly addressed differences in achievements based on gender and race and created a system which provided equal opportunity for all based on ability ...

National Report:
Para 24) There is currently on-going work to further review the ‘Children Act 1982’ and incorporate provisions of the United Nations ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child’. The Cabinet of ministers has approved the Ratification of the ‘Optional Protocol to the Convention on a Communications Procedure’ in 2020. It now awaits approval of the National Assembly, expected for tabling during the first half of 2021.
Para 113) The Government is in the process of considering the following human rights related instruments in order to determine Seychelles’ position towards signature and/or ratification: • OP-CRC-IC; …

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 2) … , the Seychelles Human Rights Commission (SHRC) noted that Seychelles had ratified all 9 core human rights treaties, but that Government action was still required regarding …, the OP-CRC-IC, …

National Report:
Para 2) The Government remains committed and fully engaged towards the review, reform and enhancement of existing legislation, and moving towards the enactment of new laws so as to remain in the forefront of advocating for the advancement of human rights practices. Some new pieces of legislation and amendments enacted since the last review include interalia: … (b) The ‘Education (Amendment) Act, 2017’ which aims to guarantee the rights of children and young persons conferred by the Constitution in the implementation of the Act, as well as afford to all students an equal opportunity to education and training, and promote the principles of gender equality.
Para 33) The National Gender Policy was officially launched in 2016, and reinforces the government’s objectives to ensure gender mainstreaming (GMS). The policy aimed to provide support that brings about positive changes in society, allowing Seychellois citizens to reach their full potential by removing gender barriers. The policy is part of the broader government duty in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women’, and regional instruments which focuses explicitly on eliminating gender bias. The National Gender Action Plan, which is intended to be proposed to Cabinet, supplements the gender policy framework which is a key component of the GMS implementation in the country.
Para 35) Stereotypical attitudes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society remain, and needs to be overcome in order to fully recognise and achieve gender equality in the public and private spheres. For instance, there is a need to increase the participation of men in child-raising and other domestic duties. Entrenched gender stereotypes can also lead to men and women specializing in specific skills and sectors, such as manufacturing and nursing professions. Despite the forgoing, it is to be noted that many women in Seychelles occupy highly respected and prominent positions such as Ministers, Principal Secretaries, CEOs and Governor of the Central Bank. There are also many women owning their own businesses.

UN Compilation:
Para 12) In 2019, the CEDAW welcomed the adoption, in 2018, of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission Act establishing the Seychelles Human Rights Commission, as well as the request for its accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. It was concerned, however, that the Commission was not yet compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) and that issues of women’s empowerment and gender equality were not yet included as part of its mandate.
Para 14) CEDAW was concerned about the persistence of discriminatory gender stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society.
Para 40) CEDAW remained concerned that women frequently faced occupational segregation with concomitant wage differentials, and that the high achievements of girls in education did not translate into labour market opportunities.
Para 53) UNESCO noted that women and girls were concentrated in traditionally female-dominated fields of study and underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the secondary and tertiary levels.
Para 57) [CEDAW] commended Seychelles on the adoption of a national gender plan of action for the period 2019–2023 and on the appointment of the National Gender Management Team. The Committee, however, noted with concern that the Gender Secretariat, which supported gender mainstreaming across all sectors, lacked adequate human, technical and financial resources, …
Para 58) CEDAW welcomed the increased representation of women in leadership positions, but remained concerned that women remained underrepresented at the decision-making level of political life, including in the parliament, the foreign service and academic leadership positions.

National Report:
Para 35) The Government has continued to step up its efforts towards preventing, and eliminating all forms of violence against women. The 'National Action Plan for Gender Based Violence' (GBV) 2011-2015 focuses on a review and harmonization of existing laws on GBV, sensitization of legal and enforcement authorities, public education campaigns, enactment of a specific law on domestic violence and lobbying for the mainstreaming of gender perspectives into national development plans.

Para 37) A 'GBV Working Together Manual' to facilitate various agencies working together to prevent and respond effectively in favour of GBV survivors and their families is being developed. The Manual seeks to set out the roles and responsibilities of each agency and the procedures for multi-disciplinary work in addressing GBV effectively.

Para 40) ... A sensitization session on GBV was held with regards to evidence collection in cases of sexual abuse and rape for health officials in December 2013. In January 2015, training was undertaken to support victims of domestic violence; a similar session for perpetrators of such crimes is also being planned for late 2015. An interactive session on GBV Prevention led by a speaker from the "US Institute of Men Stopping Violence" was held in September 2015, for an audience made up predominantly of male participants from law enforcement agencies.

Para 41) Specific legislation on domestic violence is being developed by the Government. Wide consultation has taken place in the development of the law, including with members of judiciary, civil society, churches, service providers and the police.

Para 146) A helpline for the empowerment of women was set up by the NGO Women in Action and Solidarity. Working together with government agencies, the helpline provides ... counseling for victims of domestic abuse.

UN Compilation:
Para 25) The CEDAW welcomed the National Strategy for Domestic Violence 2008-2012 and the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence 2010-2011. However, it remained concerned about the relatively high rate of violence against women, including domestic violence, and the lack of legal provisions specifically criminalizing domestic violence and marital rape. The Human Rights Committee regretted that reported cases of domestic violence had allegedly doubled in the past six years and that the majority of cases of violence reported were violence against women and children.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 14) Concerning domestic violence, JS1 indicated that Police rarely intervened in a domestic dispute unless it involved a weapon or a major assault. However, Police services had a "Family Squad" to investigate domestic violence and other family issues. The Social Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Development and Culture and "The Women in Action and Solidarity Organisation" (WASO), a local NGO, provided counselling services to victims of rape and domestic violence. JS1 added that since 2010, the Gender Secretariat of the Ministry of Community Development conducted information campaigns to end gender-based violence, using spots on television and other related media.

Para 15) On the same issue, JS2 referred to recommendations accepted by Seychelles in 2011 to eliminate violence against women and stated that gender-based violence remained a major concern. Whilst the law was adequate in its provisions of protection, the enforcement was different. The Gender Secretariat of the Ministry of Community Development continued to have limited institutional authority, capacity and resources - only two employees currently - to effectively promote the implementation of the CEDAW and support gender mainstreaming activities across all sectors and levels of the Government. Moreover, the law on sexual assault was not strong enough and female partners tended to withdraw police cases ...