Franciscans InternationalFollow-Up Statement on UPR for Benin and USA
Morse Flores, FI Advocacy, reads statement at United Nations
FI delivered an oral statement to comment on the implementation and follow-up of the UPR recommendations of Benin and the United States during the United Nations Human Rights Council on 18 March 2011.
Morse Flores, FI Asia Pacific Programme Officer, noted that FI continues to be concerned about the ritual infanticide of so-called ‘witch-children’. FI raised the issue during Benin’s UPR in 2008 and deplores the lack of concrete action by the Government to address this harmful tradition. FI urged the Government of Benin to reinforce measures to prevent and eliminate ritual infanticide which results in the death of innocent children.
During the adoption of the UPR of the United States, FI highlighted the issue of detention of undocumented migrants, trafficking in persons, including migrant workers who worked in slave-like conditions. FI urged the US Government to address these issues by developing policies ensuring that the human rights of migrants are respected.
