Statement as delivered by Tabitha Snowbarger
U.S. Mission
22nd Session of the HRC Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Geneva,
May 5, 2015
The United States welcomes the delegation from Mongolia to the UPR working group and thanks it for its presentation today.
As Mongolia celebrates 25 years of democratic rule, we are encouraged by the government’s leadership in coalitions such as the Freedom Online Coalition and the Community of Democracies, and hope Mongolia considers joining other multi-stake holder initiatives like the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. We commend Mongolia’s efforts to increase representation of women in Parliament, equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, and protections for survivors of domestic violence.
We remain concerned by reports of societal violence and discrimination against LGBT persons. We are also concerned by excessive civil and criminal penalties attached to defamation lawsuits, which have impeded the ability of journalists to do their jobs.
Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that Mongolia:
- Join the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative in order to promote respect for human rights in the provision of security for extractive industry activities;
- Continue to strengthen protections for domestic violence survivors, and extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences to visit Mongolia; and
- Ensure that laws and regulations related to freedom of expression fully comply with Mongolia’s obligations under the ICCPR and consider decriminalizing defamation.
(end statement)