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Human Rights

Volume 301: debated on Tuesday 25 November 1997

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31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the role of the European Union under the terms of the Amsterdam treaty in the protection of fundamental human rights. [16021]

Under Article F of the Treaty on European Union, the Union is already obliged to respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Amsterdam Treaty, by an amendment to Article L, confirms the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction to ensure that acts of EU institutions are consistent with these rights. New Article F.1 allows for sanctions against a Member State found in "serious and persistent" breach of fundamental rights. The EU's role, therefore, complements—and does not replace—that of the European Court of Human Rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries to which the European Union has made representations concerning the human rights and record of that country. [17316]

The European Union has made representations to a range of countries concerning their human rights records. A summary of European human rights activities is set out in the European Union's Annual Memorandum to the European Parliament. The most recent edition of the Memorandum was issued on 16 October 1997, and is available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those posts which in their project work in the legal training of state officials provide human rights documentation for schools and support non-governmental organisations involved in human rights issues. [17322]

Many posts support local human rights projects. Those recently involved in legal training of state officials or provision of human rights educational material include Sofia, Peking, Prague, Islamabad, Colombo, Lusaka, Vilnius and Port Louis. Posts regularly work closely with the British Council and both UK-based and local NGOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries to which representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government on the grounds of the human rights record of that country. [17314]

We make representations to many countries on their human rights records. We do so bilaterally or with EU partners, either directly or through multilateral fora. Where we consider it to be more effective, some representations are made privately.