Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 39^th Session (1-12 November 2021) : 3rd UPR of Samoa - Interactive Dialogue, delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 02 November 2021]

Madam President,

India welcomes the delegation of Samoa and thanks them for the informative presentation on the action taken to implement the recommendations received during its second UPR.

2. We note with appreciation that Samoa has achieved significant progress in promoting and protecting human rights through various measures outlined in the National Report.

3. As a small island developing State, we understand Samoa’s inherent vulnerabilities to impacts of climate change and appreciates Samoa to intergrate the SDGs into the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS). We commend the Government’s strategy for targeting improved quality of life for all and incorporating the needs of the most vulnerable groups across the 4 priority pillars and 14 sector plans.

4. We take positive note of Samoa becoming party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and commend Samoa’s aim to promote disability mainstreaming across all 14 economic, social, infrastructure and cross-cutting sectors.

5. In the constructive spirit, India recommends the following to Samoa:

1. Take measures that the Office of the Ombudsman be adequately resourced to carry out its functions effectively in accordance with the Paris Principles.
2. Consider ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

• Take adequate measures to improve access to health care, particularly for women in rural areas.

6. We wish Samoa all success in its future endeavors.

Thank you, Madam President.

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