Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 29th Session (15-26 January 2018): 3rd UPR of the Bahamas – Interactive Dialogue, delivered by Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of India. [Geneva, 17 January 2018]

Mr. President,

India thanks the delegation of the Bahamas for the presentation of its National Report.

2.      We welcome the initiative of the Bahamas in establishing the Office of the Ombudsman to provide relief to people who have legitimate grievances against the Government.

3.      We appreciate the Bahamas for ratifying Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. We recommend that the Bahamas initiate the process for domestication of these Protocols. We also appreciate establishment of the National Child Protection Council to ensure protection of the rights of all children.

4. We encourage the Bahamas to continue its efforts to ensure gender equality. We recommend that the Bahamas initiate gender-neutral policies relating to access to education, health, and social services. 

5.         We wish the delegation of the Bahamas all success.

  Thank you Mr. President.