UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child

HC Deb 23 July 1998 vol 316 cc693-4W

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what official representations the British Government have made to the Government of Somalia regarding that Government's non-ratification of the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child; and on what dates; [52032]

(2) what official representations the British Government have made to the Government of the United States of America regarding that Government's non-ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and on what dates. [52026]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The United Kingdom has regularly played a leading part in securing the adoption of United Nations resolutions calling upon States to accede to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as a matter of priority. At the 1998 session of the Commission on Human Rights the UK, on behalf of the European Union, reiterated this call. We have made no direct representations to the United States, which signed the Convention in 1995. Nor have we made representations to Somalia where, as a result of Civil war, there has been no government or recognised national authority since 1991.