§ 37. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal if, having regard to the increase of slavery and the slave trade consequent upon decolonisation by European powers, he will move in the United Nations General Assembly for a Committee on Slavery.?
§ Mr. GodberThe first step must be to persuade those members of the United Nations which have not yet done so to accede to the International Convention of 1926 and the Supplementary Convention of 1956 and to co-operate in carrying out their terms. Her Majesty's Government have taken initiatives in this sense at earlier sessions of the Economic and Social Council, and it is our intention to take a further such initiative at the current session.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWill Her Majesty's Government, whose record in this matter is very good, expose the hypocrisy of those member States which not only have not ratified the Slavery Conventions but tolerate or even uphold slavery and the slave trade in their territories and yet presume to sit in 1342 judgment upon Britain and Southern Rhodesia and other colonial Powers which have suppressed slavery and the slave trade within their territories?
§ Mr. GodberCertainly, Her Majesty's Government have taken a lead in this matter and intend to continue to do so. Concerning other territories, we are seeking to get them to accede to this. There are Questions with regard to Southern Rhodesia on the Order Paper. I should like to reserve comments on them until they arise.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI thank the Minister for saying that the Government will take further initiative about this very important matter. Is it not a fact that the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations regularly deals with the question of slavery?
§ Mr. GodberYes, Sir. I think that the Slavery Convention is probably the most useful way to bring pressure on more of these States to join the Convention. While I agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said, I think that this is the best way to move forward.