Statement by India during the Interactive Dialogue in the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tonga in the 43rd Session of the UPR Working Group (1-12 May 2023) delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 1 May 2023
Mr. Vice-President,
1. We warmly welcome the presentation by the delegation of Tonga.
2. We commend Tonga for its efforts to promote and protect human rights since the last review in 2018 despite the challenges faced due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in 2022. We note with appreciation the launch of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics 2019-2023, the National Strategic Plan for Long Term Care 2020-2024 and the National Health Information System. We appreciate its ratification of the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and its initiatives such as the Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management 2018-2028.
3. In the spirit of constructive cooperation, India recommends the following to Tonga:
- Continue with policy and legislative measures for combatting gender-based violence, including by ensuring access to safe reproductive health services; and,
- Consider further measures for promotion and protection of children’s rights by ensuring access to inclusive and equitable quality education.
4. We wish the delegation of Tonga all the success in its review.
I thank you.
