Displaying 52576 - 52600 of 58160 recommendations found
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:GhanaGhanaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Take necessary steps to ratify the ICCPR, the ICESCR, the CRPD and the CRC.ExplanationNoted. Tonga is committed to ensuring that it ratifies all core international human rights conventions to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. Tonga will consider acceding to the conventions, in accordance with its domestic processes. Notwithstanding the fact that Tonga is not yet a member of these conventions, many of the underlying human rights principles enshrined in core human rights conventions, already form the basis for many Tongan laws. Tonga acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 6 November 1995. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:IcelandIcelandRegional groupWEOGIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Ratify the CEDAW.ExplanationNoted. Tonga is committed to ensuring that it ratifies all core international human rights conventions to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. Tonga will consider acceding to the conventions, in accordance with its domestic processes. Notwithstanding the fact that Tonga is not yet a member of these conventions, many of the underlying human rights principles enshrined in core human rights conventions, already form the basis for many Tongan laws. On the issue of ratification of the CEDAW, Tonga had announced that it was ready to ratify the Convention at the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held at United Nations Headquarters on 12 March 2015. However, due to public protests, Tonga had had to defer the ratification process for further consultation. Through targeted and strategic consultations, Tonga continued to move towards ratification. In addition, the underlying principles of the Convention were being addressed through projects linked to the commitments of Tonga to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For Tonga, the ratification of the CEDAW was an ongoing process and represented a generational change. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:GermanyGermanyRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Ratify the CEDAW, and implement it in national law.ExplanationNoted. Tonga is committed to ensuring that it ratifies all core international human rights conventions to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. Tonga will consider acceding to the conventions, in accordance with its domestic processes. Notwithstanding the fact that Tonga is not yet a member of these conventions, many of the underlying human rights principles enshrined in core human rights conventions, already form the basis for many Tongan laws. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UruguayUruguayRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- Contraception
- Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Carry out regulatory reforms so that women can decide to perform contraceptive medical interventions and any other practice related to their health.ExplanationNoted. Tonga wishes to note the various recommendations for domestic legislative reforms and emphasizes that, in accordance with its domestic laws and processes, and available resources, it will work towards ensuring human rights are featured in its legislative frameworks. With regards to Recommendation 94. 58 to prioritise work to eliminate violence against women, the Family Protection Act Coordinator has been established to focus on the successful implementation of the Act. The ‘Families Free of Violence’ programme further focusses on responses to violence in supporting the implementation of the Family Protection Act 2013. In close collaboration with its external partners, the Government of Tonga supports initiatives such as ‘The UN Women’ programmes on the prevention of violence against women. The Australian Government’s ‘Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development’ programme has provided specific resources to assist with the implementation of the Family Protection Act 2013, as well as the Revised National Policy on Gender and Development (RNPGAD) 2014-2018. The current review of RNPGAD is scheduled for September 2018. The Government of Tonga further commits, in the Revised National Policy on Gender and Development, under ‘Outcome 2: Equitable access to economic assets and employment’, to enable women to achieve increased access to income generating business and employment opportunities; have access to resources, markets and jobs; and access to increased incomes, assets and life choices. The Government of Tonga is also committed to increasing women’s participation in labour mobility schemes through the development of a ‘Women’s Strategy for Labour Mobility’. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:MoroccoMoroccoRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupOICALOIFIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:AcceptedContents:Increase awareness raising and information campaigns to combat violence against women. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:CzechiaCzechiaRegional groupEEGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
Type:RecommendationSession:2nd session, May 2008Status:RejectedContents:Recommended the decriminalization of consensual same-sex activity between adults. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Reference AddressedContents:The UN country team stated that, despite overall improvements in health services, maternal health continued to be a cause for concern. Maternal morbidity left many women chronically ill or disabled. [Para 33]
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Not Followed up with a RecommendationContents:... ADFI recommended that Tonga improve health care infrastructure, access to emergency obstetric care, midwife training, and resources devoted to maternal health; and focus on safely getting mothers and babies through pregnancy and childbirth, with special attention paid to improving healthcare access for women from poor and/or rural backgrounds. [Para 29] -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AlgeriaAlgeriaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- International human rights instruments
- Gender equality
Type:RecommendationSession:15th session, February 2013Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify core international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 19) In May 2017, Tonga was represented at a Training on the Benefits to Pacific Island Nations of National Mechanisms for Human Rights Implementation/ Reporting and the Two Covenants, ICCPR and ICESCR hosted by the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner in Nadi, Fiji.
Para 21) Although Tonga has not ratified ICCPR, the Tongan laws continue to comply with the ICCPR principles as seen in the case of R v Vola [2005] Tonga LR 404, where the Tongan courts applied the principles of ICCPR despite Tonga’s non-ratification.
Para 22) Although Tonga has not ratified ICESCR, the principles of ICESCR are incorporated in the Tongan laws, which includes laws to the right to adequate health care, right to education, and the right to a decent home, food, shelter, the right to fair wages and equal remuneration for equal value and right to take part in cultural life…
Para 52) Tonga announced that it is ready to ratify CEDAW at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN General Assembly in New York on 12 March 2015.
Para 112) On 6 March 2015, His Majesty’s Cabinet approved for the Tonga to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Para 113) On 9 March 2015, Tonga made an international commitment during the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
Para 114) Tonga is currently working on revising the reservations to CEDAW to be consistent with issues raised by the public before it can proceed to the ratification process.
UN Compilation:
Para 2) The United Nations country team noted that, despite the recommendations accepted by Tonga during the second cycle of the universal periodic review to ratify core international human rights treaties, no concrete progress had been made thus far.
Para 3) The United Nations country team stated that, in March 2015, the Cabinet had approved the process of ratification of the CEDAW, with a number of reservations pertaining to the accession to the throne, nobility, abortion and same-sex marriage. Progress had stalled due to public protest, particularly by women religious leaders associated with the church. In February 2017, the then Prime Minister called for public consultations on ratification with the participation of local women’s groups, given that the country was divided over the subject.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 3) JS1 highlighted that Tonga had not ratified the following instruments: the CEDAW and its OP, … ICESCR; and the ICCPR and its OP …
Para 7) JS1 reported that in 2015, the Government of Tonga had stated at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York that it was ready to commence the process of ratifying CEDAW. However, a decision by the King in Privy Council put on hold the process, claiming that the decision of the Government to ratify CEDAW contradicted Clause 39 of the Constitution, which stipulated that only the King could make treaties.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AlgeriaAlgeriaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's participation
Type:RecommendationSession:15th session, February 2013Status:AcceptedContents:Take further measures aiming at promoting women participation in public life and particularly their representation in Parliament.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 46) Tonga has continued to make commitments on the international, regional and national level to improve women’s political participation.
Para 47) Tonga is committed to Sustainable Development Goal 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Para 48) 16 of 106 candidates for the 2014 General Elections were women, despite the high number of women, none were successful in the elections.
Para 49) However, after a Supreme Court ruling in January 2016 one of the members of Parliament was forced to vacate his seat. This led to a by-election in July 2016 that resulted in a female candidate being elected into Parliament.
Para 50) The November 2017 Elections has a total of 86 candidates, where 15 of those candidates are women.
Para 54) The Tongan Government introduced the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 in 2015 and one of the seven national outcomes is for a more inclusive sustainable and empowering human development with gender equality. This is supported by the following Organisational Outcomes under the Social Pillar: (a) improve gender equality by implementing the government’s gender development policy and ensuring a more balanced and effective engagement by both men and women in decision making and social, economic and political institutions (OO2.1e); …
Para 62) In 2014, the Legislative Assembly held the first ever Practice Parliament for Women in Tonga. This event was to increase the potential of women to become effective political leaders. It was to encourage and empower women to achieve their potential as leaders. This was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Para 65) The Tonga Revised National Policy on Gender and Development identified six Gender Equity Issues in Tonga namely: • … Unequal Political Representation and Participation in Decision-Making; …
UN Compilation:
Para 11) The United Nations country team reported that … in 2014, the Government introduced the revised national policy on gender and development, which focused on promoting equal access, participation and distribution of the benefits of the development process for all women, men and children. However, such measures had yet to be fully implemented.
Para 43) The United Nations country team emphasized that the representation of women in the Legislative Assembly remained extremely low, with currently only one woman representative.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 35) The low participation of women across the decision-making spectrum was of concern to JS1. Whilst there had been an increase in female appointed chief executive officers to government ministries, the appointment of women to the highest decision- making positions remained, in most places, stagnant. JS1 stated that, for example, there had been no women appointed judges since the last review, no female cabinet members and only one female in the Parliament following a bye-election in June 2016. In recognition of the Sustainable Development Goal 5.5, Parliament had approved a motion for two reserved seats for women. However, JS1 expressed concern that such a number (representing seven percent of the total number of parliamentarians) was low compared to UN standards and best practices. …JS1 noted that in June 2017, the King had invested a female as a Law Lord, which was deemed to have been a big step forward for women.
Para 36) According to JS1, the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act 2010 under which the Kingdom had been divided into 17 electoral constituencies – with one seat allocated per constituency – did not favour women candidates as it made it more difficult for women to compete with male candidates. It was even more difficult when there was a lack of support from political parties for women candidates.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
Type:RecommendationSession:15th session, February 2013Status:RejectedContents:Amend its legislation to repeal laws which criminalize consensual adult same-sex relations.ExplanationThe de-criminalisation of consensual sex between same sex adults is an issue that Tonga still wishes to consider further, through robust and comprehensive dialogue with a vast group of stakeholders. Whilst there is no doubt that such consensual adults are recognised and accepted as established members of the community, their lifestyle remains an issue to be further considered. Such dialogue will have to be conducted against the context of Tonga's embedded conservative Christian values, and also well established criminal policy that prohibits against the act of sodomy when it is committed between different sexes in a malicious and violent manner. Tonga however wishes to record that it has not yet prosecuted any same sex adults for committing the act of sodomy, and so far, the criminal prosecutions for sodomy have only been restricted in the context of criminal offending, rather than against consensual same sex partners.ImplementationNational Report Annex:
Not implemented.
UN Compilation:
Para 12) The United Nations country team noted that the Criminal Offences Act (1988) still criminalized same-sex sexual relations between consenting adults and carried a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and, at the court’s discretion, the use of corporal punishment. The 1988 Constitution of Tonga, while containing a declaration of rights that provided for equality before the law (clause 4), did not refer to freedom from discrimination, nor did other laws exist ensuring protection from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:15th session, February 2013Status:NeglectedContents:In terms of employment legislation, CSO HRTF reported that a bill had been discussed in the Legislative Assembly, but had not yet been approved. Thus there was no legal protection for any employees, male or female. The civil society organisation called on the Government to pass the Employment Act that addressed minimum wage, hours and protection of maternity rights and should also address paternity rights of employees and rights of migrant workers. [Para 9] -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Costa RicaCosta RicaRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- Discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Sexual violence
- Discrimination based on gender identity
- Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
- Violence on the basis of sexual orientation
- Violence on the basis of gender identity
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Decriminalize consensual same-sex relations, criminalize discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sexual violence, including corrective rape, and take action to end impunity.
ExplanationNoted. Tonga received 16 recommendations in relation to this area encouraging Tonga to decriminalize same sex relationships. However, Tonga currently retains its position in the first UPR Report which stated that “whilst current laws might criminalize certain consensual sexual conduct, Tonga is a Christian society that believes in tolerance and respect across difference. A respect for difference allows the widest margins of appreciation to lawmakers as well as other stakeholders and encourages robust debate about equality within society."
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:ChileChileRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- Early marriage
- Sexual violence
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Develop a legal framework for the protection of children, with special emphasis on raising the age of criminal responsibility, the prohibition of child marriages, and the protection of children from extrajudicial corporal punishment in the context of the criminal justice system, as well as corporal punishment in the home and sexual crimes within the domestic sphere.
ExplanationNoted. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:ChileChileRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:AcceptedContents:Intensify efforts to advance the ratification of ... the CEDAW.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:ItalyItalyRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:AcceptedContents:Strengthen efforts to ratify the CRPD.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:SloveniaSloveniaRegional groupEEGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:AcceptedContents:Increase women’s access to justice and ensure affordability of legal services.
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:United StatesUnited StatesRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASIssue:
- Sexual violence
Type:RecommendationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:AcceptedContents:Given high rates of sexual assault, does the Government of Tonga intend to expand laws criminalizing sexual assault? -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:Reference AddressedContents:The United Nations country team recommended that Tonga enhance the implementation of its climate change policies, while adopting a human rights-based approach, including by addressing specific needs of and barriers for marginalized and disadvantaged groups in disaster preparation and response, such as ... women ..., and fostering their participation and inclusion. [Para 36]
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Domestic violence
Type:Review DocumentationSession:43rd Session, May 2023Status:Not Followed up with a RecommendationContents:JS1 highlighted the need for a review of the Family Protection Act to be undertaken in order to address gaps and ensure its relevance to the Tongan context. [Para 45]
-
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AlgeriaAlgeriaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Examine the possibility of ratifying some international human rights legal instruments, particularly including the two ICCPR, and ICESCR.ExplanationNoted. Tonga is committed to ensuring that it ratifies all core international human rights conventions to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. Tonga will consider acceding to the conventions, in accordance with its domestic processes. Notwithstanding the fact that Tonga is not yet a member of these conventions, many of the underlying human rights principles enshrined in core human rights conventions, already form the basis for many Tongan laws. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:GeorgiaGeorgiaRegional groupEEGIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Accelerate steps towards ratification of the CEDAW ...ExplanationNoted. Tonga is committed to ensuring that it ratifies all core international human rights conventions to promote and protect the rights of its citizens. Tonga will consider acceding to the conventions, in accordance with its domestic processes. Notwithstanding the fact that Tonga is not yet a member of these conventions, many of the underlying human rights principles enshrined in core human rights conventions, already form the basis for many Tongan laws. On the issue of ratification of the CEDAW, Tonga had announced that it was ready to ratify the Convention at the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held at United Nations Headquarters on 12 March 2015. However, due to public protests, Tonga had had to defer the ratification process for further consultation. Through targeted and strategic consultations, Tonga continued to move towards ratification. In addition, the underlying principles of the Convention were being addressed through projects linked to the commitments of Tonga to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For Tonga, the ratification of the CEDAW was an ongoing process and represented a generational change. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:PortugalPortugalRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Revise the Criminal Offences Act in order to decriminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex.ExplanationNoted. The main recommendations under this theme were to: eliminate all discriminatory treatment related to sexual orientation or gender identity, and the decriminalising of same-sex consensual sex. Tonga has no national policies or regulation which condone discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity. The Government continues to support the work of the ‘Tonga Leiti Association’ (TLA) which advocates for the rights of people with different sexual orientation or gender identity and celebrates their contribution to Tongan society in entertainment, sport and business. Through government grants, the TLA has received assistance for the refurbishment of their office quarters and the provision of a vehicle to help improve their public awareness and advocacy outreach. The decriminalisation of consensual sex between same sex adults is an issue that Tonga still wishes to consider further. It requires thorough, robust and comprehensive dialogue against the backdrop of cultural sensitivities and conservative Christian values of the Tongan society. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UruguayUruguayRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
- Gender equality
Type:RecommendationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:AcceptedContents:Implement an official support system for working women, contemplating basic issues such as the minimum wage and maternity leave. -
State Under Review:TongaTongaRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Early marriage
Type:Review DocumentationSession:29th Session, January 2018Status:N/AContents:The “Let Girls Be Girls” campaign was launched by the Talitha Project sponsored by SPC/RRRT and UN Women. This campaign was to support the increase in marriage age for females. [Para 95]