§ Lord Tordoffasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take in furtherance of the UN Human Right; Commission's vote on 9 March to send human rights monitors to areas where information can be obtained on the situation in Iraq.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe attach a high priority to UN action on human rights in Iraq. We co-sponsored the resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iraq. It also requested the Secretary General to send human rights monitors to neighbouring countries. We hope that the Centre for Human Rights will be able to implement this decision quickly. We will continue to press Iraq to allow monitors to enter the country.
§ Lord Tordoffasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the UN Secretary General to provide the funds necessary for the monitoring of human rights in Iraq.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe UN human rights programme is operating under severe financial strain. We and others have nevertheless made representations in the UN urging that adequate funding for this high priority work be allocated from within the human rights programme.