Speech

53rd Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Antigua and Barbuda

Statement by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer, at Antigua and Barbuda's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kumar Iyer CMG
• Published: 6 November 2026

• Location: Geneva
• Delivered on: 6 November 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Madame Vice-President,

The United Kingdom warmly congratulates Antigua and Barbuda for the successful organisation of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.

We welcome Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review and thank the delegation for its engagement. Moreover, we welcome the change in sentencing guidelines in 2020, which will further reduce the likelihood of the death penalty being applied.

We urge the government to consider what further reform is needed to continue to tackle pressing concerns, such as ensuring equal rights for all and domestic violence.

It is in this spirit that the United Kingdom recommends that Antigua and Barbuda:

1. Maintains the de facto moratorium on executions and undertakes a review of legislation on the death penalty with a view to abolition.

2. Strengthens legal and policy protections against discrimination and violence, including for LGBT+ people, and takes steps to ensure equal enjoyment of human rights without discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

3. Continues strengthening the structures already in place to ensure judicial independence is respected and upheld.

Once again, the United Kingdom looks forward to continued engagement with Antigua and Barbuda on human rights issues.

Thank you.