Mr President,
Allow me to extend the gratitude of Sweden to His Excellency Mr Crispin Gregoire for taking an active part in our dialogue.
Sweden commends the efforts that Dominica has undertaken to harmonize its legislation with regard to children, and congratulates Dominica for the National Policy and Action Plan for gender equality and equity from 2006.
Sweden is grateful that His Excellency Mr Gregoire addressed our question about the Dominican Sexual Offences Act. Sweden is however concerned about this act that criminalizes consensual sexual activity between persons of the same sex. These sexual acts are punishable by between 5 and 25 years of imprisonment. For certain sexual acts, psychiatric hospital treatment is prescribed. Reports indicate that social discrimination against homosexuals is a common occurrence.
For this reason, Sweden recommends (1) that the Government of Dominica undertakes measures to promote tolerance and non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or identity in line with the Yogyakarta Principles.
We thank His Excellency Mr Gregoire for your clarifications on the issue of death penalty. Sweden recommends (2) that the Government of Dominica abolishes death penalty.
Lastly, Sweden expresses its concern about the situation in Dominica when it comes to discriminatory laws and practices against women in the areas of marriage, choice of partner, divorce, child custody, and transmission of nationality and inheritance. Sweden is also concerned about the existence of child labour in rural areas, and about limitations in the freedom of expression.
Thank you, Mr President