Universal Periodic Review 27: UK Statement - Algeria
This statement was delivered by the UK on Algeria at the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The UK welcomes recent changes to the Algerian Constitution leading to the creation of the High Independent Authority for Election Monitoring Body and the National Council for Human Rights.
We are pleased that the Constitution now guarantees freedom of the press, increased protection for lawyers, and increased facilities for the Parliamentary opposition.
We also welcome the amendment of the Penal Code designating domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal offences, and commend changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow for alternative sentencing.
We acknowledge that freedom of conscience and of religion are also protected by the Constitution but note the potential limitation of these rights by domestic law.
We recommend:
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Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture.
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The development and publication of a national action plan to tackle modern slavery, and ratification of the 2014 ILO protocol to the Forced Labour Convention.
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Adoption of an open, merit-based selection process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.