Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Thursday, 13 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 July 2000. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Thursday, 27 July 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who attended the 5th to 7th July European Regional Expert Group Meeting in Warsaw to assist preparations for the World Conference Against Racism; what were the decisions of this meeting; and what plans he has to publicise the conference.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who attended the 5 to 7 July European Regional Expert Group Meeting in Warsaw to assist preparations for the World Conference Against Racism; what were the decisions of this meeting; and what plans he has to publicise the conference. [131395] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The meeting in Warsaw was one of a series of five Experts Fora convened by the Secretariat of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Invitees were selected from independent organisations knowledgeable in the field, rather than from Governments. The United Kingdom-based Minority Rights Group attended. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues surrounding the protection of minorities and other vulnerable groups and the strengthening of human rights capacity at national level. The meeting was not supposed to make any decisions. These five Experts Fora are not part of the preparatory process in which United Kingdom Government officials will continue to play an active part. Until the preparatory process is further advanced, it would be premature to commence with publicising the World Conference.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 354 c900-1W; 131395
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Human rights Racial discrimination Meetings Poland United Nations Conferences
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk