U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

As delivered by Ambassador Keith Harper, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Human Rights Council

The United States warmly welcomes the Namibian delegation to the UPR Working Group.

We commend Namibia’s efforts to draw attention to gender-based violence.  However we note with concern the ongoing prevalence of gender-based violence, as well as violence against children.

We welcome the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Child Labor [to coordinate efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor;] and the passage of the Child Care and Protection Act.   We urge the government to adopt implementing regulations so that the Child Care and Protection Act can be enforced and to continue its efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that the Government of Namibia:

1. Ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the Child Care and Protection Act.
2. Combat and address the worst forms of child labor by conducting research on its prevalence and punishing offenders.
3. Establish a mechanism under which victims of gender-based violence can file for protection orders in towns and villages where there is no magistrate, and under which protection orders can be filed outside of designated court hours.

(end statement)