§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 3 October (WA 212), whether they consider that the bringing into force of Protocol No 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights would assist the Roma in protecting them against racial discrimination across Europe in those countries which have ratified the Protocol; and, if not, what are their reasons. [HL4101]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonProtocol 12 will be open for signature in Rome on 4 November. The extent of protection of Roma, over and above that already conferred by Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights and any other domestic legislation and practice, will depend on how the authorities in those countries, and ultimately the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, interpret the Protocol. The measures taken by this Government to protect the Roma were summarised in the Answer I gave the noble Lord on 3 October (Official Report WA 212).