38th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Seychelles

Thank you, Madam President.

The United Kingdom welcomes the free and fair elections held in Seychelles in October 2020, and the Government’s support for democracy and good governance, including their commitment to tackle corruption.

The UK commends the Government of Seychelles for having been an early signatory to the Media Freedom Coalition.

We are also pleased to see the Government of Seychelles’ efforts to tackle Modern Slavery and to protect and promote the human rights of migrant workers, and we encourage Seychelles to ensure systematic and recurring training for all first responders to incidents of Modern Slavery.

We recommend that Seychelles:

Ratify the 2014 ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention

Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections;

Take steps to ensure the National Human Rights Commission is adequately financed and resourced.

Thank you.