Country detail - yourHRC.org

Bahamas

Regional group:

Latin American & Caribbean Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Council Bureau membership:	Vice-president (2021)
Coordinator of regional group:	–
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2023) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Working Group on Situations (2016)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	–

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Standing - Inter-Ministerial

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council; Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.

Voting record

During the time it has served as a member of the Council, Bahamas has tended to vote in favour of all item 2 (reports by the High Commissioner), item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), item 7 (human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories) and item 10 (technical assistance and capacity-building) resolutions on which a vote was called. Notable exceptions include abstentions during the voting on the item 2 texts on the situations in Venezuela and the OPT, and one item 4 resolution on the situation in Belarus. For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, or with economic, social and cultural rights, and cross-cutting matters, where a vote was called, Bahamas tended to vote in favour; but it voted against a 2019 text on the death penalty; and abstained during the voting on a text on non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Country has not previously held a seat on the Council

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
WG on slavery, 2015

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CRC
15 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2008, 2013, 2018)

Mid-term report

Level of delegation

NMIRF / Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 8 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2023)?

YES

Response to allegations from government concerned?
NO

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 0

The Bahamas presented voluntary pledges and commitments in support of its candidature for membership for the period 2019-2021 on 5 September 2018. Key pledges include, inter alia:

At international level: Advance human rights to contribute to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda;
Cooperate with the Council and its subsidiary organs, as well as with other human rights mechanisms, including by implementing UPR recommendations, reporting to the Treaty bodies, accepting Special Procedures visits and responding to communications; In the Council, prioritise the following key thematic areas: the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities, migrants, the right to health, ensure the participation of SIDS in the Council, sustainable development, and protection against and prevention of discrimination in all its forms; work on issues of particular importance to SIDS including human rights and the environment, climate change, public service delivery and local government; Work towards ensuring that human rights are mainstreamed throughout the UN system; Support the strengthening of the Treaty Body system; Attend the consideration of its CEDAW report in October 2018; and Continue to support efforts aimed at guaranteeing effective responses by the international community (i.e. prevention and early action) to global human rights violations.

At regional level: Advocate human rights issues within the CARICOM, and promote increased CARICOM participation in the work of the Council; Work within the regional organisations of which it is a member, including the OAS and the CELAC, to further promote and protect human rights in the region; Meaningfully engage with regional partners, including CSOs, to address human rights issues.

At national level: Establish an NHRI in accordance with the Paris Principles.

An analysis of steps taken by Bahamas in fulfilment of international level pledges shows that it maintains a Standing Invitation to Special Procedures, and has facilitated most visit requests received. However, Bahamas has not responded to any of the Special Procedures communications received. Regarding cooperation with treaty bodies, Bahamas is yet to submit its periodic reports under 5 of the 7 conventions it has ratified. Bahamas is yet to ratify the CED. Bahamas attended the consideration of its CEDAW report in October 2018.

Bahamas has either voted in favour or joined consensus on all resolutions on the thematic initiatives it pledged to support.

Bahamas

Latin American & Caribbean Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 0 / 192

2nd cycle: 8 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 0

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 8 / 192