38th session of the UPR Working Group, Review of Niger, Statement by Mr. MAEHIRA Tomoyoshi (3 May 2021)

 
Thank you.
 
　Japan warmly welcomes the delegation of Niger to this session.
 
   Japan commends the holding of peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections and the consolidation of democracy in Niger.
 
　Japan highly appreciates the positive steps taken by Niger under the leadership of the former President ISSOUFOU and the incumbent President BAZOUM to protect and promote the rights of women and children, including adoption of the National Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Strategy in 2017 and development of a national strategic plan to end child marriage.
 
　At the same time, Japan is aware of challenges facing Niger, including those related to the rights of women and children.
 
　Japan would like to make two recommendations:
 

1. expedite the adoption of the law criminalizing torture in line with the CAT that Niger ratified; and

 

2. eliminate all harmful practices such as child marriage, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation.

 
We wish the delegation of Niger every success in the review.
 
I thank you.