Advance questions
- Could the Government of Mongolia elaborate on what legal and financial measures are taken to ensure the sustainability of civil society activities on human rights?
- Could the Government of Mongolia give an update on the status on the implementation of the National Human Rights Program?
- Could the Government of Mongolia elaborate on the measures taken to ensure the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and provide information on the process for the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism?
- Could the Government of Mongolia elaborate on measures taken to address domestic and sexual violence and ensure proper redress and protection of victims of domestic violence, as recommended in the UPR 2010 hearing?
Statement
President,
Norway welcomes the delegation from Mongolia. We acknowledge Mongolia’s efforts to further enhance the protection of human rights, in particular the adoption and recent ratification of UN human rights conventions, and national programmes to protect the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. We also appreciate Mongolia’s efforts to establish a participatory and inclusive process for consultation with civil society for its UPR.
Norway is pleased that Mongolia has undertaken reform of its legal framework in order to ensure equal rights for all. However, we are concerned that instances of misuse and misinterpretation of law by judges and the police can lead to victims of human rights violations not reporting on these instances. We recommend that Mongolia hasten its positive work on revising the Criminal Code and other necessary legal framework, followed up by its effective implementation, to ensure a legal framework and human rights culture which promotes equality and security for all.
We also recommend that Mongolia strengthen its efforts to include women in decision-making processes and high-level positions, and to ensure the inclusion of disabled persons in education and employment. We further recommend exploring strategies to combat child labor.
Finally, Norway is concerned about reports on asylum-seekers being returned before their status as refugees have been clarified, and the numbers of stateless persons in Mongolia. We understand that Mongolia is considering acceding to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Such a decision would be an important development for the protection of human rights for refugees and we recommend that Mongolia positively consider acceding to the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Thank you.