CHILDREN AT GUANTANAMO BAY

Early day motion 1117, tabled 30 April 2003 by Valerie Davey (Labour). Signed by 84 members.

That this House notes the admission of Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson, a spokesman at the American detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, that three boys aged between 13 and 15 years are among the 660 inmates being held at the camp; further notes that in doing so the United States is violating the United Nations convention on the Rights of the Child which states that 'every child deprived of his or her liberty shall have the right to prompt access to legal and other appropriate assistance'; recognises that although the US is one of only two countries in the United Nations not to have ratified the Convention it is a signatory and as such has an obligation to uphold the Convention; and urges the Government to do all in its power to ensure that the US fulfils this obligation.

Signatures by party: Labour 51, Liberal Democrat 22, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2.