UN group lauds political reforms, slams lack of women’s rights
NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Feb. 6, 2013) – A United Nations review conducted on the state of human rights in Tonga was completed on 25 January 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland, when Tonga's Minister for Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea was questioned over women’s rights, police violence, establishing a national human rights institution, the living conditions of persons with disabilities and the reasons for Tonga's failure to accede to numerous core international human rights instruments.
The review was administered under the UN’s Human Rights Council’s "Universal Periodic Review Working Group (Working Group)."
The process involved member states reviewing and questioning the national reports.
Tonga’s national report on Human Rights was presented before the Working Group by Minister for Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea, with delegates Solicitor General 'Aminiasi Kefu, and the Charge d'Affaires, Tonga...