U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Palau

38^th Session, May 6, 2021
As Delivered by Meryn Schneiderhan

The United States warmly welcomes the delegation from Palau.

We recommend that Palau:

1. Enforce the anti-trafficking laws by prosecuting officials for illegal practices that facilitate trafficking and do not prosecute or penalize victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled the victims to commit;

2. Enforce regulations that protect foreign workers, particularly regarding discrimination in employment, pay, housing, education, and access to social services, and investigate and prosecute violations; and

3. Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute human traffickers, including complicit officials, and sentence convicted traffickers to adequate penalties.

We commend Palau for establishing regulations regarding conditions of employment for foreign workers and acceding to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol in 2019.  However, we remain concerned by the continued reports of forced labor and sex trafficking, discrimination against foreign workers, and lack of reporting of rape and domestic violence.