U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Samoa
Read by Meryn Schneiderhan
39th Session
The United States welcomes the delegation from Samoa.
We recommend Samoa:
1. Decriminalize consensual sexual relations between men and strengthen protections from societal violence and discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons;
2. Amend existing laws to prohibit all of the worst forms of child labor and align with ILO standards on child labor and minimum age for employment;
3. Strengthen existing legal frameworks and enforcement of laws addressing sexual and gender-based violence, including the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of sexual exploitation of children.
We commend Samoa’s commitment to advance protections for human rights.