§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which member states of the European Union have signed the new Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and which member states have not done so. [HL1465]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe following member states of the European Union have signed the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom have not done so.
In 1997–98 the Government undertook a review of our obligations under international human rights instruments. The right of individual petition under various UN instruments was looked at very carefully. The outcome of the review was announced in another place by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary on 3 March 1999.
The review concluded that for the present accession to such Optional Protocols would have an adverse effect on work in hand to prepare for and implement the Human Rights Act.
The UK's position with regard to these protocols will be looked at again once the Human Rights Act has bedded in.
2WA
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their reasons for having failed to sign the new Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. [HL1466]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalFollowing a thorough review of our obligations under international human rights treaties completed in March 1999, the Government concluded that accession to Optional Protocols calling for the right of individual petition would adversely affect the major work under way in preparing for and implementing the Human Rights Act.
The UK's position with regard to these protocols will be looked at again once the Human Rights Act has bedded in.