HL Deb 01 December 1997 vol 583 c143WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ratify the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We are reviewing the United Kingdom's position on the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which enables individuals to submit complaints to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, as part of the wider review of international human rights instruments announced on 3 July 1997. We will announce our conclusions in due course.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which member states of the Council of Europe and of the European Union respectively have not accepted the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:

The Council of Europe members which have not accepted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are: Albania; Andorra; Greece; Liechtenstein; Republic of Moldova; Switzerland; the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Greece and the United Kingdom are the only EU members not to have accepted the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.