# CE2004088EN.01047501.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/475 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/475

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(2004/C 88 E/0487)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3851/03

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject:   Ratification of international conventions in the field of human rights

Subject:

Will the Commission indicate the most recent state of play (broken down by country) as regards all 25 current and future Member States' signature and ratification of all United Nations, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Council of Europe and other international conventions in the field of human rights, equality, protection of minorities and anti-discrimination?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

(30 January 2004)

Within the United Nations there are several conventions on human rights, equality, protection of minorities and non-discrimination.

All 25 current and future Member States are party to the following core conventions in these fields:

| — | the International covenant on civil and political rights; |
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the International covenant on civil and political rights;

| — | the International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights; |
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the International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights;

| — | the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment; |
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the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment;

| — | the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women; |
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the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women;

| — | the International convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination; |
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the International convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination;

| — | the Convention on the rights of the child; |
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the Convention on the rights of the child;

| — | the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees. |
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the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees.

Within the Council of Europe, there are several conventions and protocols on human rights, equality, protection of minorities and non-discrimination. The two most important conventions are the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All 25 current and future Member States are parties to them.

The question also mentions the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). To the Commission's knowledge, there are no conventions on human rights, equality, protection of minorities and non-discrimination within the framework of the OECD. Regarding the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, all 25 current and future members of the Union are participating States. As such, they subscribe to political commitments of OSCE in the fields of human rights, equality, protection of minorities and non-discrimination. The OSCE, as a political organisation, has no legally binding texts in these fields.

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