AQW 5638/16-21 Written question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister , pursuant to AQW 3841/16-21, to outline (i) who was responsible for the decision to not attend; (ii) why that decision was not given in a timely manner; and (iii) whether they were aware that non-attendance would mean non-compliance from the United Kingdom.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 18 October 2016
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 18 October 2016
- Answer due by
- 2 November 2016
- Answered
- 8 November 201621 days after tabling
- Department
- The Executive Office
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Attendance by a representative of the Executive at the dialogue with the UN in Geneva on 15-16 June 2016 was not, in itself, an international obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. As such, non-attendance by a representative of the Executive does not mean non-compliance from the United Kingdom.
As outlined in the response to AQW 3841/16-21, no decision was taken concerning attendance. However, we are committed to actively engaging in the future to enable the many positive actions here to be reported back to the United Nations.