A/HRC/21/9
Relations Act which allow for public officials to discriminate, and reiterated its call for
adherence to the ICRMW. Algeria made recommendations.
41.
Angola welcomed the establishment of the human rights commissions of Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Angola commended the ratification of new international instruments
such as the CRPD and the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Angola recognized the United Kingdom’s efforts to implement accepted recommendations.
Angola made recommendations.
42.
Argentina congratulated the United Kingdom on the adoption of the Equality Act to
combat discrimination. It expressed its opposition to the inclusion of the Falkland Islands
(Malvinas)1 in the list of overseas territories in paragraph 140 of the national report, and
reaffirmed the wording of the note verbale presented by Argentina. Argentina made
recommendations.
43.
The Minister of State noted that many of the contributions from States mirrored
debates taking place in the United Kingdom. Regarding Argentina’s intervention, the
United Kingdom’s position relating to the Falklands (Malvinas) had not changed, and was
based on the principle of self-determination.
44.
As outlined in the opening statement, the United Kingdom Government was
committed to the promotion and implementation of children’s rights. It noted that there had
been significant developments since its last review, including the formal removal of the
final two reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it had ended the
detention of children for immigration purposes in 2011.
45.
In England, the Government had given a commitment to Parliament to give due
consideration to the Convention when making new policy and legislation. It was also
introducing legislation to strengthen the role of the Children’s Commissioner for England.
In 2011 the Welsh Government enacted legislation which places a duty on its Ministers to
have due regard to the CRC when making policies and legislation and the Scottish
Government have consulted on introducing a similar duty.
46.
Responding to Sweden’s question about prison overcrowding, the United Kingdom
stated that it was committed to providing safe and well ordered establishments in which it
treated prisoners humanely, decently and lawfully. The United Kingdom would always
need to have enough accommodation for those sentenced to custody by the courts,
including maintaining a sufficient margin to enable us to manage population fluctuations.
However, the United Kingdom’s focus was on trying to break the cycle of criminality by
addressing the underlying causes including illiteracy, mental illness and alcohol and drug
dependency.
47.
The United Kingdom rejected absolutely the Russian Federation’s assertion that
conditions in United Kingdom prisons amounted to torture. Prisons were subject to regular
inspection by an independent inspectorate accountable to Parliament. In the context of the
2011 summer disturbances, the United Kingdom said it was important that responses to
public order situations were swift and targeted so they did not escalate, the public were
protected and reassurances to communities could be given. The Home Secretary had asked
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to review the response to the disorder and they
had made a number of recommendations to the police to consider.
1
8
A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (see
ST/CS/SER.A/42).
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