The Isle of Man Government has said that there is no intention at this time to comply with the United Nations `Paris Principles’ which encourage governments to set up National Institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights.
The Governments position is outlined in a response to the Celtic League from Chief Secretary, Mary Williams.
The government say that it “does not consider that it is necessary for a small jurisdiction such as the Isle of Man to establish a national institution to monitor human rights legislation etc.”
The full text of the Manx government’s letter is set out below:
“Our reference : 018.6 – MW/AS
Your reference : Human Rights Act
9 April 2010
Mr J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
11 Clely Rhennee
Kirk Michael
Isle of Man
1M6 1HT
Dear Mr Moffatt
Thank you for your letter of 13 February 2010 concerning the Human Rights Act 2001 and the United Nations’ “Paris Principles”, which were adopted by UN General Assembly resolution of 48/134 of 20 December 1993.
The purpose of the Island’s Human Rights Act was to enshrine certain provisions of the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Manx law. As you know, with the agreement of the Isle of Man Government the UK’s ratification of that Convention has extended to include
the Island since the early 1950s.
Unlike the European Human Rights Convention, or indeed the UN conventions related to human rights, the Paris Principles are not binding in international law and therefore the Isle of Man Government is under no obligation to implement them.
The Government considers that the Human Rights Act provides a robust mechanism by which the Island’s residents can enforce their rights under the European Convention. If a person considers that the Island’s courts have failed to interpret the Convention rights correctly they can of course still ultimately take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Should any case arise where a court in the Island or the European Court finds that rights
under the Convention have been infringed the Government will seek to address the issue positively.
In the circumstances the Government does not consider that it is necessary for a small jurisdiction such as the Isle of Man to establish a national institution to monitor human rights legislation etc.
Yours sincerely
Mrs M Williams
Chief Secretary”
Link to the correspondence to the Manx Government in February here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3244
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
14/04/10