§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will accept the right of petition under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminaton Against Women; and, if so, when. [HL4088]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe announced on 22 July our intention to accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The protocol will be laid before Parliament in October. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny being passed, we hope to deposit our instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the United Nations on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
By what empirical criteria they will evaluate the merits of the right of petition under the United Nations human rights treaties, with particular reference to the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women during the two years after the comming into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. [HL4086]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)Following UK acceptance of the Optional Protocol for the Limitation of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, applications to the committee will be monitored on a case by case basis.