HC Deb 15 May 1958 vol 588 c587
12. Mrs. Emmet

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far, in the drawing up of the constitutions of emergent territories, the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, passed by the United Nations in 1953, is taken into careful consideration.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The principles enshrined in this Convention are always kept in mind during consideration of constitutional revision in territories where these rights are not already secured, but regard must also be paid to local religious or other customs in such matters.

Mrs. Emmet

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some disappointment that in the new Constitution for the Bahamas the Convention on the Political Rights of Women has not been observed inasmuch as the women there have not been granted votes?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I have already said in reply to an earlier supplementary question, I do not for a moment doubt that this will come about in the Bahamas in due course, but the purpose of my visit was to take immediate action to remedy proved grievances and I did not feel that this as yet fell into such a category.

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