HC Deb 18 October 1989 vol 158 cc146-7W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present status of the optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights.

Mr. Sainsbury

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights on 16 December 1966. It was opened for signature on 19 December 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976. As at 1 August 1989, 45 states had ratified or acceded to the optional protocol.