U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) –  18^th Session

Intervention for Chile

UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, January 28, 2014

Thank you Mr. President.

The United States welcomes the Chilean delegation to the UPR working group.

We commend Chile’s commitment to democracy and its strong record on human rights, and we recognize Chile’s progress in addressing domestic violence issues since its first UPR.  While we applaud all educational programs to increase awareness of domestic violence, we remain concerned about its high rate of occurrence.

We note the progress Chile has made in regard to the protection of members of minority groups, including through passage of the anti-discrimination law.  We remain concerned about the treatment of indigenous peoples, in particular in relations with security forces and societal conflicts.  How is the government of Chile working to fulfill its international commitments concerning indigenous populations?

Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that Chile:

1. Continue efforts to strengthen existing mechanisms to better protect women and children and prevent physical and sexual abuse and discrimination, including through additional training programs to identify those most at risk of abuse;
2. Refrain from applying anti-terrorism legislation to Mapuche individuals in the context of intercultural conflicts, including land disputes, and increase political dialogue on indigenous issues.

Thank you Mr. President.