Delegation of the European Union to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community

08/23/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/23/2023 00:41

EU ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI 2022 UPDATES

1. Overview of the human rights and democracy situation:Since its independence from the UK in 1979, Kiribati has maintained a stable and democratic government. In September 2022, Kiribati underwent an institutional crisis, caused by a dispute between the President and the Judiciary about the firing of a number of Australian judges, which left Kiribati without a high- level court. The crisis was temporarily solved after the Attorney General was appointed Acting Chief Justice on 28 October 2022, awaiting the recruitment of a new Chief Justice.

Overall, the Human Rights situation in Kiribati remained stable in 2022. Human rights violations typically include violence against women such as spousal abuse, child abuse and sexual exploitation of children that remain serious challenges to tackle effectively in spite of the national legislation condemning it. Sexual and gender-based violence continues to beprevalent throughout Kiribati. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with pre-existing social norms, gender inequalities, restricted travel and social isolation measures, aggravated the situation.

Violence against children and child malnutrition remain serious concerns. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is incorporated into national legislation through the Children, Young Persons and Family Welfare Act 2013, and the Education Act prohibits corporal punishment in schools. However, corporal punishment is still practised and is considered socially acceptable.

The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or origin. However, only native Kiribati can own land. Gender discrimination is prohibited only when it pertains to employment. The law does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or social status. Consensual sex between males is criminalised inKiribati, but there were no reports of prosecutions. Women's participation in political life remains relatively low. Following the 2020 election, only four of the 46 members of the national legislature are women, one more than in the previous period.

The government of Kiribati has not yet established a National Human Rights' Institution in compliance with the Paris Principles, but human rights are gradually being mainstreamed into national legislation. A Human Rights Taskforce and a Human Rights Unit based at the Ministry of Justice provide human rights training and monitoring and coordinate implementation of ratified human rights treaties.

2. EU action - key focus areas: Regional programmes implemented in Kiribati focus also on the eradication of domestic and gender-based violence. Other key areas aim at upholding and promoting citizens' protections as well as of building inclusive and democratic societies.

3. EU bilateral political engagement: Human rights and gender equality are promoted through policy dialogue and financial instruments. The EU is committed to supporting government and non-state actor efforts to reduce gender-based violence. During 2022, the EU Delegation for the Pacific reached out numerous times to the Kiribati government via demarches, in order to support the EU's human rights priorities and initiatives at the UN and other international fora.

4. EU financial engagement:Kiribati benefits from two EU-funded regional initiatives promoting gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence: the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the Spotlight Initiative. Kiribati is one of the target countries from the regional component of the Spotlight Initiative. The Ministry of Education in Kiribati revised curricula that incorporate social citizenship education (SCE) in mainstream subjects. An SCE Policy Handbook for Schools has been developed for Kiribati and other Pacific Islands. The Pacific Partnership also facilitated access to services for survivors of violence against women in Kiribati to continue through adaptation of national reporting and referral pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included technical support to adapt Gender Based Violence and COVID-19 procedures, information, education and communication materials for the public on how to get help, and direct support to safe shelter and counselling for women and girls.5. Multilateral context: Kiribati's third Universal Periodic Review took place in January 2020. Of the 129 recommendations received, Kiribati accepted 88 and noted 41. Kiribati is party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Kiribati has condemned in international fora Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kiribati co-sponsored the vetoed UNSC resolution of 25 February 2022 and voted in support of all five Ukraine-related UNGA resolutions. Kiribati is also a key ally together with other Pacific Islands Countries in the fight against Climate Change