Human Rights Council 49th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Afternoon Session - Republic of Kenya

Mr President,

We warmly welcome the delegation from the Republic of Kenya.

We welcome Kenya’s progress in the protection of individuals from harmful practices, including increasing funding for anti-FGM initiatives.  

New Zealand recommends that Kenya:

1. Legislate against harmful practices perpetrated against children, including child marriage, virginity testing, and genital mutilation of both male and female children.
2. Strengthen protections against gender-based violence, including femicide. 
3. Amend the Penal Code to criminalise against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings by Police. 
4. Increase efforts to strengthen the Prevention of Torture Act, including ensuring accountability for perpetrators. 
5. Strengthen measures to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including training for police officers and other authorities to ensure non-peaceful assemblies are met with a proportionate response. 

We thank the delegation for their participation today and wish them a successful review.

Thank you Mr President.