U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

As delivered by Jessica Carl
29th Session of the Human Rights Council’s UPR 
Geneva, January 17, 2018

Thank you Mr. President.

The United States welcomes the Bahamian delegation to the UPR Working Group.

The United States is disappointed that many of the issues noted in the previous review remain unaddressed, such as the restrictions on the human rights of women and of members of marginalized communities.

We are also concerned about the backlog in the criminal justice system, such that pretrial detainees languish for years in overcrowded jails with poor physical conditions.

Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that the Bahamas:

1. Pass legislation that would criminalize marital rape;
2. Pass comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that would protect the human rights of all, including LGBTI persons and members of ethnic minority groups; and
3. Create an accurate and transparent online case tracking system, in order to ensure that all criminal defendants are afforded fair trial guarantees and equality before the courts consistent with the Bahamas’ international obligations, and consider release from custody and alternatives to pretrial detention.

(end statement)