HC Deb 11 December 1978 vol 960 cc88-9W
Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek agreement of the appropriate United Nations bodies to a statement of the doctrine of non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign States, which would allow for the collection of information by the United Nations on alleged violation of human rights submitted under the 1503 procedure or the optional protocol to the convention oil civil and political rights.

Mr. Tomlinson:

The doctrine of nonintervention is already contained in article 2(7) of the Unted Nations Charter. The Government believe that articles 55 and 56 impose on member Governments of the United Nations the positive obligation to pursue policies to promote human rights and to co-operate with the United Nations organs and instruments to that end.