The Celtic League has made a submission to a forthcoming session of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Leagues concerns relate to the failure of the United Kingdom and Isle of Man government to implement the clear intent of Part 1 (Article 1.3) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Right. See below:

"Mr. Paulo David Secretary, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights UNOG-OHCHR 1211 Geneva Switzerland

06/12/08

Dear Mr. Paulo David

Observation for Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 42nd session (4 - 22 May 2009)

I am writing to you on behalf of the Celtic League in order to submit an observation concerning the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Right (ICESCR) at the domestic level, regarding the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Crown Dependencies' report.

Specifically our observation concerns the Isle of Man, found in Chapter three of the report, page 119 to 122. Our observation is outlined below:

In Part I, Article 1.3 of the ICESCR, it states that:

"The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations."

However, in the fifth periodic report, 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Crown Dependencies' submitted to ECOSOC on 7th August 2007, it says in point 605 concerning the implementation of Article 1 of the ICESCR, that:

"605. There have been no significant changes since the Fourth Periodic Report."

While we believe that this may be fair enough to report by the State Parties, we do not believe that this provides an adequate answer. The ICESCR is worded in a way that implies that State Parties should actively promote "the realization of the right of self-determination."

Moreover, in the 'Revised general guidelines regarding the form and contents of reports to be submitted by states parties under articles 16 and 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights : . 17/06/91.', ( (voir le site) it states under Article 1. of the Covenant:

"In what manner has the right to self-determination been implemented?"

In view of the 'Revised General Guidelines', the actual wording of the ICESCR document and the answer provided by the State Parties in their fifth periodic report, we therefore would like to observe:

What has been done to "promote the realization of the right of self-determination" in the Isle of Man by the State Parties?

In what manner has the right to self-determination been implemented in the Isle of Man by the State Parties?

In addition, we would like to express our disappointment that none of the State Parties of the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Crown Dependencies' report publicise the fact that they are making submissions as part of a reporting process to United Nations committees such as ECOSOC. Neither have the above mentioned State Parties sought input or consulted with NGOs or interest groups generally in civil society when framing submissions.

Even though the Celtic League does not currently have consultative status with ECOSOC or other UN Committees, we have participated at a United Nations level in different spheres in the past. For instance, the Celtic League made a submission to the UN, in the 1960's, on behalf of Breizh/Brittany, Cymru/Wales and Alba/Scotland, entitled 'The right of Brittany, Wales and Scotland to self-determination and international protection'. In the past we have also worked in conjunction with the Manx Council for Civil Liberty to contribute submissions and evidence to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), when that body was enquiring into the policy of the Isle of Man government to imprison children at the general Prison on Mann in the 1990s.

The League was also involved in the preparation of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights document, which was proposed as a resolution to the UN Human Rights Council for adoption as an International Convention on 17th of June 2008. We have also regularly been asked to provide written and oral evidence to the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), in various areas.

I have attached the statues of the Celtic League for your interest and will forward 25 hard copies of this letter for Committee members and the Secretariat later this month, as requested by the Humans Rights Officer, Stefano Sensi, in his email.

Many thanks in advance for your consideration of our observation and we look forward to hearing from you further.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary"

A copy of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be found at:

(voir le site)

The UK State Report referred to in the correspondence can be found at (the Isle of Man Report is on pages 118 - 122):

(voir le site)

The concluding session of the Committee will be held in May next year details are then published on the web pages at:

(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 08/12/08

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