Trinidad and Tobago was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review

Trinidad and Tobago was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council. Regarding questions and observations on the death penalty, Trinidad and Tobago drew attention to the fact that, although no declaratory statement had been made by the Government on a moratorium on the death penalty, in fact, since 1999 there had been a functional moratorium on such penalties, none of which had been implemented since that year. It was added that a rich debate within the Government and society regarding the issue was continuing. Trinidad and Tobago noted that in a situation where violent crime was widespread it was a great challenge for a Government to risk giving the impression that it was not adequately combating crime. Trinidad and Tobago rejected recommendations to establish an official moratorium on executions as a step towards the ultimate abolition of the death penalty.