UPR 24th Session,
Geneva, January 19, 2016
-as delivered-
The United States welcomes the delegation of Mozambique to the UPR Working Group.
The United States applauds the progress made by Mozambique in enacting a new penal code.
While Mozambique has been successful in numerous areas, we remain concerned over the lack of progress on several issues from the previous UPR session. There continue to be allegations of arbitrary arrest and detention and corruption impedes development. While Mozambique made progress in addressing the worst forms of child labor, the problem persists.
Violent confrontations between government forces and armed elements of the opposition, including through the government’s attempted coercive disarmament campaign, resulted in loss of life and displaced people. Unsolved murders, and the impunity of organized crime syndicates, undermine the rule of law.
Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that Mozambique:
- Ensure that the Attorney General’s Office and other offices thoroughly and aggressively investigate murders, corruption and organized crime, and prosecute alleged perpetrators.
- Respond positively to the request of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to undertake a country visit.
- Ensure that the legal framework addressing child labor raises the age of compulsory education to correspond to the minimum work age, and establishes specific hazardous occupations or activities prohibited for children.
(end statement)