50th UPR Working Group: Key highlights

Belarus has made progress in the areas of access to healthcare, specifically maternal and child healthcare, and free education. Moreover, Belarus adopted legislation in 2022 to ensure equality and non-discrimination towards persons with disability. Recommendations urged Belarus to increase the protection of rights of civil society and the restoration of civic freedoms, with a focus on unlawful arrests and strong calls for the release of political prisoners. They also received numerous recommendations that focused on the decrease of restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and on the implementation efforts to fight against torture, discrimination, and women’s inequality, specifically by considering the ratification of the Optional Protocol of the CEDAW. 

Liberia had undertaken legal reforms aimed at harmonising its domestic legislation with international human rights standards. Moreover, the State has committed to pushing a government-issued executive order (2024) for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court. It has also actively sought international cooperation and technical assistance to monitor human rights. Despite its commitment towards the abolition of female genital mutilation, the recommendations received focused on sexual gender-based violence and child marriage. Moreover, the State received recommendations that focused on treating the gaps in the justice system, enhancing anti-corruption measures, the abolition of the death penalty, and efforts to combat discrimination. Liberia was encouraged to consider ratifying the Optional Protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the CEDAW as well. 

Malawi continued its efforts to make improvements in the areas of public health, education, reduction of poverty, discrimination towards minorities, food and housing insecurity as a direct result of climate change, and the rights of persons with disabilities. Malawi has shown its commitment to international human rights standards through the maintenance and strengthening of its national human rights institutions, including the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Recommendations made to Malawi included the reform of public services and prison centres, the protection of the rights of the child, including child marriage, enhancing access to justice and education for all, and increasing efforts to reduce poverty and its related human rights issues (food security and housing). Several recommendations were made encouraging Malawi to consider ratifying its outstanding international treaties, specifically the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW, the ICCPR, and the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mongolia highlighted the progress achieved since the submission of the report, including legislative and institutional developments, including The Draft Family Law, prioritising the protection of the child’s interests and rights, enhancing mediation services, and strengthening the capacity of the judiciary in family-related matters. Regarding the rights of older persons, Mongolia noted provisions exempting employed pensioners from pension insurance premiums, requiring companies with 50 or more employees to hire older persons, and imposing penalties for violations of their economic rights. The State has also made efforts on climate change legislation, combating corruption, and ensuring judicial independence. Recommendations made to Mongolia included the topic areas of trafficking and exploitation, the strengthening of disability access and social protection, and measures to increase accountability and inclusion. Moreover, some States showed concern for the dissolution of Mongolia’s National Human Rights Committee.

Panama reported progress since the previous UPR cycle, particularly in advancing gender equality through the creation of the Ministry of Women (2022), a key step toward strengthening institutional frameworks and ensuring a coordinated national response to gender-based violence and the promotion of women’s empowerment. The delegation also highlighted progress in the protection and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as in improving access to education, health services, and social protection. Panama emphasised the ongoing alignment of its human rights policies with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Recommendations focused on further strengthening the protection of Indigenous Peoples and persons of African descent, promoting non-discrimination on all grounds, and reinforcing measures to combat human trafficking and gender-based violence. States additionally encouraged Panama to continue improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation, particularly in rural and remote communities, and to enhance the implementation of national human rights institutions in line with the Paris Principles.

Within its constitutional framework, which established Islam as the basis of law, Maldives did not recognise freedom of religion beyond Islam and did not revisit its reservations to the ICCPR and the CRC, as well as the remaining reservations to the CEDAW. Nonetheless, the delegation reported legislative and institutional reforms to strengthen governance and the rule of law, combat corruption, expand labour protections, regulate the media and enhance access to justice, including reforms across the criminal justice system. Recommendations were made to Maldives focused on the strengthening of gender equality and fight against gender-based violence, the independence of the judiciary, constitutional reforms on civic freedoms like freedom of assembly, expression, and religion, and the abolition of the death penalty. Moreover, the delegation was encouraged by many recommending States to consider ratifying international treaties including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families.

Andorra highlighted progress since its previous UPR cycle, reporting the implementation of 54 out of 66 accepted recommendations, with the remainder currently in progress. The delegation reaffirmed that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development continues to guide the country’s national priorities. The national report emphasised key legislative advances, including the Qualified Act on the Rights of Children and Adolescents (2019) and the Qualified Law on the Person and the Family (2022), which strengthened child protection and prohibited marriage under the age of 18. Andorra also announced its intention to ratify the ICESCR by 2025. In the area of gender equality, new laws promote equal treatment and opportunities, establish comprehensive protection services for victims of gender-based violence, and include plans to decriminalise abortion during the current legislature. Recommendations to Andorra focused on further strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities, and improving access to sexual and reproductive health, advancing gender equality, enhancing political participation and the inclusion of minorities, combating discrimination and hate speech, and reinforcing national human rights institutions in line with the Paris Principles.

Bulgaria highlighted major rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms, strengthened national human rights institutions, and tougher measures against discrimination and hate crimes, while also advancing protections for freedom of religion and media independence. Progress on gender equality was noted, along with enhanced frameworks to prevent and address domestic violence. The delegation also underscored improvements in child rights, and disability inclusion, together with continued efforts to support Roma inclusion. It also reported extensive support for refugees – particularly from Ukraine – and steps to better protect stateless persons. Moreover, Bulgaria outlined actions to improve environmental sustainability, including investments in clean transport, water quality, and renewable energy, with nearly all bathing waters rated excellent. The recommendations made to Bulgaria focused on the education and reducing of school drop-out rates, specially in Roma children, the enhancement of measures to combat human trafficking, and the protection of civic freedoms, including the amendment of the Criminal Code to protect journalists. The delegation also received numerous recommendations on women’s rights and domestic violence, majoritarily those urging it to consider ratifying and implementing the full Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), as well as to amend the Criminal Code to criminalize marital rape and adopt a consent-based definition of rape.

Honduras highlighted improvements in health, education, and social protection, including major investments in public health, reduced illiteracy, and expanded school meal coverage. Progress in sustainable development included halting concessions in vital water zones, strengthening Indigenous and Afro-Honduran territorial rights, and launching the Zero Deforestation by 2029 plan. Recommendations made to Honduras focused on the continuation to strengthen justice mechanisms to ensure transparent and efficient investigation into corruption cases, the ensuring of free and fair elections, and a constitutional duration of the state. Recommendations were also made to ensure the protection of women and the LGBTQI+ community, and to halt discrimination of minorities.

The Marshall Islands highlighted its commitment to strengthening governance, transparency, and anti-corruption measures, including efforts to establish a national human rights institution. The delegation also reported progress in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Implementation of the 2025–2030 National Action Plan on Anti-Human Trafficking and strengthened protections for women and children were emphasised. The Marshall Islands underscored the severe impacts of climate change and its nuclear legacy, detailing ongoing adaptation and resilience efforts. Education and health priorities included better support for children with disabilities and enhanced responses to non-communicable diseases. The recommendations received by the State targeted the strengthening of the protection of vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and migrants, against all forms of violence and discrimination, the enhancement of rights inside detention facilities, and the establishment of a National Human Rights institution. Several States also recommended that the Marshall Islands ratify key international treaties, such as the United Nations Convention Against Discrimination in Education and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Croatia highlighted progress in strengthening rule of law and human-rights protections, including 2025 Criminal Code amendments aligned with the EU anti-trafficking directive and stronger victim-support measures. The delegation underscored reinforced media freedoms, noting that journalists cannot be criminally prosecuted for public-interest reporting. Access to justice improved through expanded and better-funded free legal aid, particularly in rural and earthquake-affected areas. Recommendations made to Croatia centred on strengthening the monitoring, investigation and prosecution of racist and hate speech crimes, on ensuring gender equality by promoting employment among women, and enhancing inclusivity in education. The State also received recommendations focused on amending the gaps in its justice system, including inefficiency and lack of transparency. Moreover, there were several recommendations made to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Jamaica highlighted progress in addressing gender-based violence, and child protection through legislation and national plans. Efforts to improve access to justice, prison conditions, and rehabilitation services were noted, alongside health initiatives reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Jamaica also reaffirmed the role of its inter‑ministerial National Task Force against Trafficking in Persons, maintaining operations with NGO participation to prevent trafficking, prosecute offenders, and protect victims. Recommendations made to Jamaica focused on the persistent efforts to combat gender-based violence and strengthen the enforcement of said measures. They also targeted the protection of persons against discrimination, specifically vulnerable groups like the LGBTQI+ community, including their inadequate sexual and reproductive rights. Furthermore, the State received several recommendations to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.

Libya reported formal commitments to human rights and efforts to address gender-based violence through specialised courts and police training. The delegation also emphasised the government’s development projects focused on water sanitation, health facilities, education, and infrastructure; noting major investments in the health sector, with 64 projects to construct or rehabilitate hospitals and health centres, providing more than 3,500 beds. Recommendations to the State centred on institutional and legal reforms to ensure gender equality, avoid arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, and protection for migrants and refugees. Several recommendations on the strengthening of measures and rights to protect the conditions in prison and detention facilities were also made, as well as recommendations on education, enhancing the inclusivity for vulnerable and marginalised groups. Moreover, Libya received recommendations to Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.