UN Human Rights Council 12th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States
Geneva, September 24, 2009
As prepared (not delivered in plenary)
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States thanks Chile for their serious and thoughtful engagement with the UPR process. As we adopt the UPR report on Chile, we would like to highlight some of the positive results of their review by the Working Group.
The United States praises Chile for endorsing the recommendation to increase efforts to ensure implementation of legislation guaranteeing the principles of non-discrimination and adopting a comprehensive strategy to eliminate all forms of discrimination, particularly gender-based discrimination. The United States also welcomes Chile’s intent to review and, if necessary, modify legislation to ensure the right of every person not to be discriminated against.
The United States is encouraged that Chile will continue to reform and upgrade its detention system in order to improve the situation of inmates. The United States strongly commends Chile’s endorsement of the numerous recommendations by several delegations to improve and protect the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in Chile.
We welcome Chile’s intention to work with relevant NGOs to create programs to educate law enforcement officials and judges on domestic violence as a way to ensure that this issue will not remain hidden in the domestic sphere. The United States further appreciates the information that Chile provided regarding its Agenda for Gender Equity 2006-2010. The United States commends Chile’s ongoing human rights efforts, and would be interested to learn more of plans, challenges, and successes as the Government of Chile works to achieve the realization of the tasks accepted in the Review.
Thank you, Mr. President.