WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/25 (2000/C 330 E/026) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (11 January 2000) 20 November 1999 was the tenth anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. All Member States of the European Union have ratified this agreement. Somalia has neither signed nor ratified the agreement. While the USA has signed the agreement it has not ratified it. As far as is known, the Commission intends to publish a communication on the rights of children. Does the Commission intend to draw attention in this communication to the fact that Somalia and the USA are the only countries not to have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? Is the Commission considering taking steps to encourage Somalia and the USA to ratify the agreement as soon as possible? If so, what measures does the Commission plan to this end? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The Commission attaches the highest importance to the support of the rights of children as set out in the United Nations (UN). The Commission notes that all countries with the exception of Somalia and the United States (US) have ratified the UN Convention. It would welcome its ratification by those two countries. Although the decision whether to ratify a UN Convention is a matter for the individual state concerned, the Commission will continue using its close bilateral contacts with the US to bring up this issue in an appropriate manner. However, as far as Somalia is concerned, it is evident that this country will not be able to sign any Convention, as long as it has no government. The UN Convention has attained an unprecedented level of ratification. With 191 States Parties, the Convention is the first legally binding international human rights instrument which is close to universal ratification. The Union has issued frequent appeals to the remaining States, not yet parties to the Convention, to ratify it as a matter of priority. However, ratification alone is not enough. The Convention also needs to be implemented through the enactment of national legislation. The Union is concerned at the large extent of reservations to the Convention. It continues to make known its objections to reservations which are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention. These reservations raise doubts as to the true commitment of the States concerned to implement the Convention. The Union also urges the States Parties to review regularly other reservations with the aim of withdrawing them. As regards a communication by the Commission on the rights of the child, no final decision has yet been taken. Specific actions in different fields in favour of children are already in fact in place. (2000/C 330 E/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/99 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 January 2000) Subject: Ridham Dock incinerator Plans have been drawn up for the construction of a waste incinerator plant at Ridham Dock in the Swale Special Protection Area, Kent