Norwegian recommendations in UPR on Tunisia 22 May 2012
Norway warmly welcomes the Tunisian delegation.
Norway commends the considerable efforts of the Tunisian Government in the field of Human rights after the Revolution last year. We also welcome the positive steps that have been taken by the government to implement several of the recommendations from the previous UPR.
We recommend Tunisia to continue the reforms in the security sector, inter alia to avoid future torture and ill-treatment of demonstrators and detainees in conformity with international human rights standards.
Norway welcomes Tunisia’s moratorium on the death penalty and it’s signing of the second optional protocol to the ICCPR. However, death sentences continue to be pronounced, the last one in March this year, even if they are not executed. We recommend Tunisia to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty and to ratify the second optional protocol to the ICCPR.
Finally, we recommend Tunisia to remove the remaining reservation to the CEDAW and aligning its nation legislation with the Convention, including the Civil Code to give women equal rights in matters of inheritance and guardianship of children.
Norway’s Advance Questions for Tunisia
- Are there any plans to revise the penal code, including the provision of article 121ter of the penal code, which criminalizes the spreading of false information as well as articles 245 and 248 criminalizing defamation?
- Could the government of Tunisia please elaborate on the progress towards abolishing the death penalty within its jurisdiction? What plans does Tunisia have to ratify the second Optional Protocol to the Covenant?