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U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Guyana

35^th Session
Geneva, January 29, 2020

As delivered by Sean Garcia

https://geneva.usmission.gov/2...ic-review-of-guyana/

The United States welcomes the Guyanese delegation to the UPR working group.

The United States recommends that Guyana:

Immediately implement reforms to strengthen electoral procedures and enhance the independence of electoral authorities in order to ensure the March 2020 elections are free, fair, transparent, and credible.
Repeal the laws that criminalize LGBTI status or conduct, including sections 351 to 353 of the Guyana Criminal Law Offences Act.
Strengthen enforcement of all labor laws by increasing the number of labor inspections and imposing penalties sufficient to deter violations.

The United States is concerned about recent actions by Guyana that may undermine democratic principles, including apparent misapplication of the Guyanese constitution, and certain court rulings.

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35th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Guyana

Published 29 January 2020

UK Mission to the United Nations Geneva

https://www.gov.uk/government/...-statement-on-guyana

The UK delivers statement on Guyana at the 35th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

The United Kingdom welcomes Guyana’s progress since its last review, though notes it has not yet ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, despite committing to do so.

We commend Guyana’s increased efforts to promote and protect media freedom and we stress the importance of a free, fair and independent media that is treated appropriately, free from legal or other restrictions, including defamation laws. We encourage Guyana to join the Media Freedom Coalition in the coming year.

Whilst we welcome the removal of the mandatory death penalty for murder, it is regrettable that death sentences continue to be imposed. We urge the Government to establish a formal moratorium on executions, with a view to eventual abolition.

We recommend that Guyana:

1 Ensure victim services are sufficiently available for all victims of trafficking: including men, as well as women and children.

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

3 Repeal all legal provisions that discriminate against persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

1/29/209:26 PM

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Summary of Stakeholders’ submissions on Guyana*Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights Council Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Thirty-fifth session20–31 January 202

https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/35/GUY/3

Fundamental freedoms and the right to participate in public and political life28

17.JI noted that, in December 2018, the National Assembly passed a vote of no-confidence in the Government and that, despite the Constitution required the Government to resign and hold elections within 3 months, elections had not been held yet.2918.TCC noted that regulations related to the administration of elections were fragmented across numerous pieces of legislation,orders, regulations, and judicial decisions. It considered that consolidation of the law in advance of future elections would create greater legal certainty and clarity among stakeholders.30

19.TCC stated that Guyana should re-evaluate the electoral system, considering systems that would promote support across ethnic lines and better reflect international standards. It noted that the present system allowed political parties to allocate seats to members of their lists after the election, meaning that the voter casted his/her ballot for the party, not candidates, and that there was no requirement that the parties must allocate seats in the National Assembly to any of the female candidates from within their lists. TCC also stated that Guyana should allow independent candidates; improve campaign finance laws; and establish clear requirements for the registration and operation of political parties.31JI recommended that Guyana amend the electoral laws to remove the restrictions on small and local parties.32

20.TCC considered that the process for the counting, tabulation and transmission of results should be carefully reviewed and revised to increase transparency.33It also considered that publicly available guidelines should be created regarding a request for recounts, decision-making criteria for the granting of recounts, and ways recounts are to be conducted.34

21.TCC considered that steps should be taken to re-evaluate the formulation of the Guyana Election Commission to ensure that it advanced as a professional and independent election management body that was nonpartisan and reflected international standards.35

22.TCC stated that Guyana should reconsider systems to enfranchise citizens working on the election day, ensuring that all citizens, including members of civil society serving as election observers, had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. It also stated that Guyana should seek to facilitate voting by prisoners, particularly those held in remand who had not yet been convicted of a crime.