Statement as delivered by Leslie Marks
U.S. Mission
22nd Session of the HRC Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Geneva,
May 7, 2015
Thank you Madam Vice-President.
The United States warmly welcomes His Excellency Minister Sunye and the Andorran delegation to the UPR Working Group.
We commend Andorra’s exemplary human rights record and longstanding commitment to democracy and the promotion and protection of human rights.
However, we are concerned that the government has not yet developed or implemented all necessary mechanisms for the protection of workers’ rights, including laws, resources, investigations, remediation, or penalties.
We also note that the law does not provide for an independent mechanism to investigate security force abuses or killings. We further note that the government does not provide official status for faiths other than Catholicism.
Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that Andorra:
- Adopt legislation providing for the right to collective bargaining and prohibiting acts of anti-union discrimination;
- Ensure that credible allegations of police misconduct are investigated through an independent mechanism; and
- Demonstrate respect for freedom of religion or belief by recognizing the legal status of other faiths, in addition to Catholicism.
(end statement)