§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will seek to persuade the Governments of Commonwealth countries which have accepted the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (giving competence to the Human Rights Committee in individual cases) to uphold the Protocol. [HL1290]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe EU made a demarche to the Jamaican Government on 5 January, requesting that it reconsider its decision to withdraw from the First Optional Protocol. We are now considering how best to continue our dialogue with Jamaica. We would consider making similar démarches to any other country which announced its intention to withdraw from the First Optional Protocol.