NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
You will recall sometime ago we wrote to the Manx government asking about its contributions to CEDAW, the UN Convention on the Elimination and Discrimination against Women, reporting sessions (see link):
We received the reply below from Mr Greenhow the Chief Secretary together with some linked attachments which can be accessed on the OHCHR (CEDAW) website.
I will reserve comment other than to say that the Manx government is still not fully compliant with CEDAW. Additionally note the final paragraph which says:
“No NGOs were consulted during the preparation of the Island’s last CEDAW update.”
It speaks volumes about the Manx government’s attitude to interaction with groups in Civil Society.
The Celtic League, as an accredited (ECOSOC) UN NGO, has a right to seek representation at the reporting stage sessions at the UN. However there may be groups e.g. women’s support groups or Trade Unions in Mann who would possibly welcome the opportunity to be consulted.
Mr Greenhow’s reply (which was received on the 11th of December) is below:
“Dear Mr Moffatt
Thank you for your enquiry.
You are quite correct that the Isle of Man Government contributes to the periodic reports submitted by the UK Government to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This is because the UK’s ratification of CEDAW on 7 April 1986 included the Isle of Man. The UN Treaty website includes the following note under the information on CEDAW:
“61.The instrument of ratification specifies that the said Convention is ratified in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands.”
The Island is therefore, along with the British Overseas Territories to which the Convention applies, considered to be part of the UK State Party for the purposes of the Convention and Committee.
The periodic reports of each State Party to CEDAW (and the other UN human rights conventions) can be found by searching the UN Treaty bodies database website:
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/TBSearch.aspx?Lang=en
The direct link to the Island’s contribution to the UK’s last periodic report to CEDAW can be found at:
The last time a UK periodic report was considered by the Committee was in July 2013. For convenience I attach a copy of the Island’s contribution to the last periodic report and also a copy of the Committee’s Concluding Observations following its consideration of the information provided in respect of the UK, IOM and the OTs.
The Isle of Man’s contribution to the latest periodic report was, like that of the UK itself, a report by the Government to the Committee. Periodic reports are published by the UN on the treaty bodies database website some time in advance of a country being examined by the Committee and NGOs can submit their own observations, concerns, etc. directly to the Committee. There is no requirement for NGOs to be consulted or for their views to be represented in the periodic reports submitted by a country to the Committee. No NGOs were consulted during the preparation of the Island’s last CEDAW update.
Yours sincerely
Will Greenhow
Chief Secretary
BERNARD MOFFATT
Issued by: The Celtic News
12/12/15
THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE
The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues