UK Statement at Palau’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you Mr President and a warm welcome to the delegation of Palau.
The United Kingdom welcomes Palau’s efforts to strengthen its anti-trafficking legal framework, including updating its Anti-Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking Act. We also commend Palau’s progress in updating its Family Protection Act to improve access to services and address gender-based violence.
We encourage Palau’s continued engagement with the UK and other international partners to support the effective establishment of a national human rights institution and ratification of CEDAW.
We recommend that Palau:
-
Updates relevant legislation to set the minimum age of marriage to 18, without exception.
-
Amends the Anti-Discriminatory Act to explicitly prohibit all forms of disability-based discrimination and establish clear procedures for the investigation and remedy of complaints.
-
Aligns the minimum age of employment with the end of compulsory education, in line with ILO Minimum Age Convention standards.
Thank you.
