HC Deb 08 July 1999 vol 334 cc596-7W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the substantive resolutions and decisions made at the 55'h session of the UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva on 22 March to 30 April. [89900]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Eighty two resolutions and 13 decisions were adopted at the 55th session. A full list is available in the Library of the House and on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' internet website.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the members of the United Kingdom delegation to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. [89901]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights was attended by the late Derek Fatchett, who made a national statement in plenary on behalf of the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom delegation was headed by Audrey Glover CMG. She was supported by a team of officials from the United Kingdom Permanent Missions in Geneva and New York, and received additional support from London.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the issues of substance concerning the death penalty discussed under Item 17 at the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights; what position was argued by the United Kingdom; what issues were put to the vote; what were the voting figures; and which way the United Kingdom voted on each occasion. [89902]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The UK co-sponsored an EU resolution calling on all States to abolish the death penalty and, where it is retained, to observe minimum international safeguards. The resolution, the text of which is available on the website of the office of the UN Commission on Human Rights, was adopted by 30 votes in favour, with 11 against and 12 abstentions. A paragraph vote tabled with the aim of weakening the text was defeated.

The UK also co-financed with Germany a panel discussion on the death penalty, with expert participants from the Council of Europe, International Commission of Jurists, Russia, Egypt, Pakistan, UK, USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues were raised by the United Kingdom on the concept and practice of affirmative action under Item 16 at the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights; what resolutions were moved by the United Kingdom; and what was the result. [89903]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The United Kingdom sponsored a decision entitled "The concept and practice of affirmative action", under agenda item 16 at the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. The decision endorses the appointment of a Special Rapporteur to undertake a study on the subject of affirmative action. It was adopted by consensus by the Commission. There were no resolutions on this topic under this agenda item.