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decriminalise same-sex conduct and one recommendation from
Bangladesh to continue to criminalise same-sex conduct. Instead, Tonga noted that “hilst current laws might criminalise certain consensual sexual conduct, Tonga is a Christian society that believes in tolerance and respect across difference. A respect for difference allows the widest margin of appreciation to lawmakers as well as other stakeholders and encourages robust debate about equality within society.” This response leaves Tonga's position open for future UPR reviews which may eventually result in a positive human rights outcome.
122:). In September 2009, the Tongan Legislative Assembly voted 18 to 1 with 4 abstentions not to ratify CEDAW. In announcing the decision not to ratify, the Tongan Prime Minister stated that ratification 'would cut across our cultural and social heritage that makes up the Tongan way of life.' Further, Tonga did not want to ratify with reservations or undertake a 'ratification of convenience.'
88:. This protects a number of civil and political rights such as prohibition of slavery (clause 2), equality before the law (clause 4), freedom of religion (clause 5), freedom of speech (clause 7), and a number of criminal procedure rights (clauses 9–16). Notable omissions from the Declaration of Rights are the
156:
and of the press, these rights are not always protected in practice. Politicians and media outlets seeking greater democracy often have their rights curtailed. For example, since 2008, the board of the government-owned Tonga
Broadcasting Commission has directed that all programming be reviewed by TBC
205:
Tonga does not have a national human rights institution. There is however a Public
Complaints Commissioner who receives and investigates complaints about government departments. The Tongan Government has also indicated that it is considering establishing a national human rights institution.
196:
Sodomy is illegal in Tonga, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, although there have been no prosecutions for such offences in recent years. During its
Universal Periodic Review in 2008, Tonga rejected three recommendations from the Netherlands, Canada and the Czech Republic to
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reads: "Subject to clause 12 of the
Constitution, in addition to liability under this Act, a respondent may also be prosecuted under other criminal laws for the time being in force for his acts if the facts disclose the commission of a separate criminal offence under those provisions.
23:
with a population of approximately 130,000. Politics and the economy are dominated by the king, the nobility, and a few prominent commoners. Economic, social and cultural rights are generally well respected. There are, however, a number of issues concerning protection of
173:
An ongoing issue in Tonga for many years has been the absence of full representative democracy. After a process of constitutional reform, in the
November 2010 elections, a majority of the seats (17 out of 26) in the Tongan Parliament were elected by
69:
137:
was criminalised in 2013. Women are able to lease land, but they are unable to own land. Inheritance to land title passes through male heirs. This is a significant barrier to the economic empowerment of women in Tonga.
49:
65:
118:, Tonga is one of only two countries in the Pacific region (and seven countries in the world) that is yet to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (
178:, with the remaining nine seats being reserved for members of Tonga's nobility. This marked a shift away from the 165-year rule of the monarchy towards a fully representative democracy. The
76:). Although public consultation has taken place in relation to ratification of CEDAW, opponents are concerned and protested that it could open the way for same-sex marriage and abortion.
383:
324:
61:
619:
566:
556:
133:
Legal
Literacy Project of the Catholic Women's League, estimates suggest that between 31% and 62% of women are victims of violence by an intimate partner.
515:
Natalie Baird "The
Universal Periodic Review as a Legacy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Potential Pacific Impact" in NZIIA and NZHRC
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appointed censors prior to broadcast. There are also a number of cases where attempts to limit media freedom have been challenged. See for example,
593:
528:
Universal
Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Tonga A/HRC/8/48 (5 June 2008), para 63(23) and (24).
278:
Universal
Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Tonga A/HRC/8/48 (5 June 2008), para 63(3)(5)(6)(7).
45:
634:
60:, Tonga accepted recommendations to ratify some of the other treaties including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (
57:
381:
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129:. Violence against women appears to be pervasive in Tonga, although there is limited empirical data available. According to the Tongan
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The death penalty is legal in Tonga, but has not been imposed since 1982. Tonga is considered an abolitionist in practice. Tonga and
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Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Tonga A/HRC/8/48 (5 June 2008), para 65.
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Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on Universal Periodic Review: Tonga A/HRC/8/48 (8 June 2008), para 65.
775:
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398:"Female economic empowerment in Tonga has a long way to go" (Women and Child Crisis Centre, Tonga, 1 September 2010).
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380:, other sexual offences, murder and manslaughter and sexual exploitation through people trafficking and smuggling"
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25:
358:
Universal Periodic Review: Summary of Stakeholder Submissions: Tonga A/HRC/ WG.6/2/TON/3 (11 April 2008), para 13.
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314:"Tongan Parliament decides not to ratify CEDAW" (Press Release, 18 September 2009), para 4. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
305:"Tongan Parliament decides not to ratify CEDAW" (Press Release, 18 September 2009), para 3. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
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in 1999. It is party to two of the nine core human rights treaties - the Convention on the Rights of the Child (
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376:: For example, (without limitation), assault, offences endangering life and health, grievous bodily harm,
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68:), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (
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Domestic human rights protections include a Declaration of Rights in the 1875
28:, particularly freedom of expression, and rights to political participation.
478:
571:
557:
National Report of Tonga under the UN Human Rights Council's UPR Process
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Converging Currents: Custom and Human Rights in the Pacific (NZLC 2006)
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64:), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (
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are the last Pacific Island countries to retain the death penalty.
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described it as "Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament".
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Celebrating Human Rights: Sixty Years of the Universal Declaration
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16:
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and comprehensive protections for economic and social rights.
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2010 Human Rights Reports: Tonga (US State Department).
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2010 Human Rights Reports: Tonga (US State Department)
479:"Absence of PM from opening of Parliament questioned"
711:
688:
607:
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TOSC 47; CV 374/ 2004 (15 October 2004 Webster CJ).
455:"Strong showing for Tonga democrats in election"
144:, with a penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment.
409:"Criminal Offences Act, sections 103, 104, 105"
461:. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-11-26
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8:
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432:TOCA; 6 CA 4/03 & 10/03 (25 July 2003).
289:"Tonga Govt sends CEDAW back to the public"
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152:Although the Constitution provides for
72:), and the Convention Against Torture (
7:
58:United Nations Human Rights Council
488:, Taimi Media Network, 9 June 2011
14:
430:Utoikamanu v Lali Media Group Ltd
201:National human rights institution
159:Utoikamanu v Lali Media Group Ltd
620:Federated States of Micronesia
1:
552:Freedom House Report on Tonga
547:Civil Society Forum of Tonga
325:"FAMILY PROTECTION ACT 2013"
142:Abortion is illegal in Tonga
216:Capital punishment in Tonga
125:In 2013, Tonga enacted the
98:freedom from discrimination
52:). In May 2008, during its
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369:Family Protection Act 2013
213:
189:
127:Family Protection Act 2013
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80:Constitutional protections
26:civil and political rights
442:Taione v Kingdom of Tonga
163:Taione v Kingdom of Tonga
54:Universal Periodic Review
771:Northern Mariana Islands
812:Human rights by country
736:Cocos (Keeling) Islands
602:Human rights in Oceania
254:"Ratifications - Tonga"
169:Political participation
110:Women's rights in Tonga
21:constitutional monarchy
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36:International treaties
30:Violence against women
807:Human rights in Tonga
714:and other territories
542:Constitution of Tonga
260:on September 27, 2011
214:Further information:
190:Further information:
148:Freedom of expression
108:Further information:
86:Constitution of Tonga
192:LGBT rights in Tonga
32:is a serious issue.
295:. February 6, 2017.
180:Taimi Media Network
484:2012-03-16 at the
386:2016-02-10 at the
367:Section 29 of the
210:Capital punishment
176:universal suffrage
794:
793:
786:Wallis and Futuna
731:Clipperton Island
689:Associated states
186:Sexual minorities
154:freedom of speech
40:Tonga joined the
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776:Pitcairn Islands
746:French Polynesia
726:Christmas Island
655:Papua New Guinea
635:Marshall Islands
608:Sovereign states
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135:Marital rape
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645:New Zealand
114:Along with
801:Categories
465:2011-08-02
345:2016-05-26
228:References
615:Australia
264:August 2,
630:Kiribati
482:Archived
459:BBC News
411:. PACLII
384:Archived
781:Tokelau
680:Vanuatu
94:torture
756:Hawaii
675:Tuvalu
66:ICESCR
670:Tonga
660:Samoa
650:Palau
640:Nauru
339:(PDF)
328:(PDF)
120:CEDAW
116:Palau
70:CEDAW
62:ICCPR
19:is a
17:Tonga
751:Guam
703:Niue
625:Fiji
417:2021
378:rape
374:Note
266:2011
161:and
50:CERD
293:RNZ
131:NGO
74:CAT
46:CRC
803::
457:.
330:.
291:.
236:^
165:.
96:,
595:e
588:t
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