HC Deb 08 April 1968 vol 762 cc181-2W
60. Mr. Archer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that a committee of experts be appointed to investigate interrogation procedures employed by the Greek police, and report to the Committee of Ministers.

Mr. William Rodgers

No. The European Commission of Human Rights is already well aware of the question of human rights in Greece as the result of Applications made by several Governments last year. These Applications have now been extended to cover alleged violations of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, on torture and inhuman treatment.

Mr. Archer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations to support the proposal of the Human Rights Commission to establish machinery for the institution of international criminal proceedings against individuals guilty of crimes against humanity, and in particular those committed against inhabitants of South West Africa.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

I believe my hon. Friend is referring to the Commission's decision of the 16th of February to request a report on the possibility of establishing a Grand Jury of Legal Experts for South West Africa. In common with a number of other countries, we abstained from the vote on this point because, as the House knows, we have reservations about the legal competence of the General Assembly to revert the administration of South West Africa to itself.