The Government of St Kitts and Nevis says it has made significant strides in strengthening human rights protections and improving safety and equality across the federation, as it appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Garth Wilkin, represented the twin-island state during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process in which UN member states assess one another’s human rights records. 

He was joined by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs, Azilla Clarke, along with the country’s representative to Switzerland.

Addressing the Council on January 27, Wilkin said St Kitts and Nevis — home to approximately 51,000 people — remains committed to a people-centred approach to development, grounded in constitutional governance, the rule of law and practical implementation of rights.

“We approach this review with transparency,” Wilkin told the Council, adding that while international commitments are important, “implementation matters as much as commitment.”

Wilkin acknowledged the challenges faced by small island developing states, including limited institutional capacity and vulnerability to external shocks, but said the government is strengthening national systems to track, implement and follow up on human rights obligations.

He pointed to ongoing efforts to improve coordination among government ministries, enhance judicial independence through the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court framework, and expand access to justice, including phased reforms to legal aid.

Wilkin said gender equality remains a national priority, highlighting the implementation of the Gender Equality Policy and Action Plan 2022–2027 and the development of a new National Social Protection Policy aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, including children, older persons, people with disabilities and female-headed households.

The government has also moved to strengthen its response to gender-based violence, expanding access to protection orders, improving survivor-centred services and participating in a regional Caribbean agreement signed in October 2025 to modernise domestic violence legislation.

On crime and citizen security, Wilkin reported a sharp reduction in violent crime, saying homicides fell by 75 per cent between 2024 and 2025 — one of the most significant declines in the Caribbean. He said youth and gang-related violence remains a concern, but noted a greater focus on prevention, rehabilitation and community-based interventions.

Addressing prison conditions, the Attorney General acknowledged challenges such as overcrowding and remand pressures, while outlining steps being taken to improve detention standards in line with international norms and to explore lawful alternatives to pre-trial detention.

Wilkin also reiterated the government’s recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, linking human rights protection to climate resilience, environmental conservation and sustainable development under the country’s Sustainable Island State Agenda.

Closing his remarks, Wilkin said St Kitts and Nevis remains open to technical cooperation and constructive engagement with international partners, stressing that human rights are embedded in the country’s constitutional framework.

“Respect for human rights is within our national DNA,” Wilkin said in his opening remarks.

Several countries used the review to urge further reforms. 

Georgia recommended stronger legislative protections for children and measures to combat violence against women. 

Germany called on the government to take additional steps to protect LGBTQ+ citizens and to formally abolish the death penalty.

The German delegation also welcomed a 2022 High Court ruling that decriminalised same-sex relations, while encouraging further legal safeguards to ensure LGBTQ+ people can live free from fear and discrimination. 

Germany noted that no executions have been carried out in St Kitts and Nevis since 2008 and recommended the country ratify the UN Convention Against Torture and introduce an official moratorium on the death penalty.