HC Deb 13 July 1953 vol 517 cc1705-6
28. Mr. Morley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which nations have now subscribed the Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly at its Third Session on 10th December, 1948. This Declaration does not require signature or ratification but is in the form of a Resolution proclaiming the ideals of the members of the United Nations. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of the 48 States which voted for this Resolution.

Mr. Morley

Is the Minister aware that members of the Baptist community in Spain have been heavily fined and in Czechoslovakia have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment merely for practising their faith? Will he have this matter raised in the General Assembly of the United Nations as an infringement of the Declaration of Human Rights?

Mr. Lloyd

The Question refers only to the number of nations which have subscribed to the Declaration. The hon. Member is trying to draw me on to rather different ground.

Miss Lee

Is there any nation which has taken the principles enunciated in the Declaration and has put them into practice?

Mr. Lloyd

I hope that there are certain nations, of which we are one, which have gone a very long way to implement these principles.

Following is the list: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia. Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Siam, Sweden, Syria. Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.