32nd session of UPR, Review of the Dominican Republic (30 Jan. 2019)

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

　We would like to warmly welcome the delegation of the Dominican Republic and appreciate its presentation.

　Japan appreciates the steps taken by the Dominican Republic to promote and protect human rights under democracy and rule of law in accordance with its National Development Strategy for 2030. Japan welcomes the recent adoption of the Political Parties Act which will increase women’s political representation as well as the introduction of several policies for protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities.

　The Government of Japan would like to make the following two recommendations:

1. to redouble efforts to eliminate violence against women, taking note of the persistently high number of femicides in the country.

2. to take further efforts to protect prisoners’ human rights by improving detention conditions through prison infrastructure development and other measures. Japan expresses its concern at the reports of poor living conditions in prisons due to overcrowding.

　I wish the delegation of the Dominican Republic every success in this review.

　I thank you, Madam Vice-President.