CORNWALL 2000 CIRCULAR

UK GOV: "WE SIGN INTERNATIONAL TREATY, BUT UK CITIZENS WILL NOT BENEFIT"

MONDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2007

SUMMARY:

THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS RATIFIED A LEGALLY BINDING INTERNATIONAL TREATY [also know as a Convention]. WHEN UK CITIZENS TAKE ACTION TO SECURE  BENEFITS UNDER THE TREATY, GOVERNMENT SAY "THE CONVENTION DOES NOT CONFER ANY BENEFITS ON THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECOGNISED UNDER IT".

BACKGROUND:

THE GOVERNMENT RATIFIED THE CONVENTION ON 15 JAN 1998. THIS MEANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE CONVENTION. 

• LEADING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION 'MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP' SAY THAT THE CONVENTION OBLIGES THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE "SPECIAL MEASURES, REFRAIN FROM CERTAIN PRACTICES AND GUARANTEE SPECIFIC RIGHTS" [MRG Sep 1999].

• THE CONVENTION STATES THAT THE UK WILL "IMPLEMENT THE  PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN THE CONVENTION THROUGH NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT POLICY". 

• HOME OFFICE SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE O'BRIEN HAS ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT "THE CONVENTION GUARANTEES RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW AND THE GOVERNMENT AGREES TO ADOPT POLICIES TO BRING THIS ABOUT" [NOV 1999].

• THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DECLARED "THE CONVENTION CONTAINS SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR MINORITIES" [UNHCR FACTSHEET No 18].

• THE CONVENTION ITSELF REFERS DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO FALL WITHIN ITS SCOPE. 

YET WHEN THE CORNISH ATTEMPT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS THROUGH THE HIGH COURT, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMS THE COURT THAT THERE ARE NO RIGHTS AND BENEFITS TO BE HAD FROM THE CONVENTION, AND AS THE ACTION IS MERELY ACADEMIC, IT IS A WASTE OF COURT TIME AND SHOULD BE THROWN OUT.

SECRETARY OF STATE RUTH KELLY'S 16TH FEB 2007 STATEMENTS MADE TO THE HIGH COURT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

"THE CONVENTION  IS NOT AN INSTRUMENT THAT GOVERNS LAW MAKING OR POLICY IN THE UK" [PARA 12]

"THE CONVENTION DOES NOT CONFER ANY BENEFITS ON THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECOGNISED UNDER IT" [PARA 31].

IF THERE ARE NO BENEFITS TO BE HAD UNDER THE CONVENTION, WHY DO THE THE UN, THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND THE CONVENTION SAY THERE ARE, WHY HAS THE GOVERNMENT PREVIOUSLY SAID THERE ARE, WHY BOTHER TO SIGN IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND WHY FIGHT TO KEEP THE CORNISH OUT OF IT?

                                                “The Convention shall be applied in good faith and in a spirit of understanding and tolerance”.

                                                                                        Framework Convention Article 1

END

For more information, or to offer assistance, contact:

John Angarrack