UN CONVENTION ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

Early day motion 786, tabled 11 February 2009 by David Lidington (Conservative). Signed by 69 members.

That this House notes that the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 2006, is critical to providing protection for all British citizens anywhere in the world from enforced disappearance; notes that the Convention is the first universally binding treaty that recognises that enforced disappearance is a violation of human rights and prohibits it, and that it aims to prevent the enforced disappearance of all peoples, to establish the truth when this occurs, to punish the perpetrators and to provide reparations to victims and families; acknowledges the UK's role in the working group which drafted the Convention; but is concerned that progress on signature and ratification of the Convention by the UK has been delayed and that the UK is one of the last countries in Western Europe which has not signed the Convention; notes that France ratified the Convention on 23 September 2008; and calls upon the Government to sign and ratify the Convention as soon as possible.

Signatures by party: Conservative 42, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour 12, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.