UPR WORKING GROUP –20th SESSION

(27 October -7 November 2014)

UPR of Bolivia – Interactive Dialogue

(Tuesday, 28 October 2014: 1430 – 1800 hrs)

STATEMENT BY INDIA

Mr. President,

1. India welcomes the delegation of Bolivia led by H.E Mr. Hector Enrique ArceZaconeta, State Attorney General at its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and thanks it for its National Report and presentation.

2. We commend the action taken by Boliviain implementing the recommendations accepted at its first UPR including steps taken to further strengthen the legislative and institutional framework for the protection and promotion of Human Rights in Bolivia.

3. We congratulate Bolivia for the progress achieved in reducing poverty, making it the country with the greatest poverty reduction (32.2%) in Latin America during 2000-2012(according to UNDP report). Its economic achievements resulting in Bolivia’s shift from a low-income country to middle-income country are praise worthy. We are encouraged by the Patriotic Agenda 2025, for improving equality and social justice and look forward to its adoption and successful implementation. In this regard, we recommend that Bolivia continues to pay attention to women and children related issues.

4. We take positive note of the efforts aimed at strengthening the capacity and independence of the judiciary and commend the adoption of the 2013–2025 Sectoral Plan for Plural Justice and selection of the highest judicial authorities through popular elections. We recommend that Boliviacontinue to takefurther necessary steps for enhancing access to justice.

5. We welcome the new voluntary pledges made by Bolivia particularly its commitment to establish an inter-institutional forum on human rights issues for the preparation of periodic reports.  Being a party to all the core international human rights conventions, it will go a long way in streamlining its onerous reporting obligations.

6. We congratulate Bolivia on its election to the Human Rights Council and appreciate its cooperation with the various human rights mechanisms. We commend Bolivia’s initiative in establishing the open-ended intergovernmental working group on the rights ofpeasants and other people working in rural areas in the HRC. We wish Bolivia all success in its endeavour to ensure the realisation of human rights for all its citizens.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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