| PITCAIRN ISLANDS Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands (overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 04/28/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Adamstown
53
Elizabeth II of United Kingdom
Queen since 6 February 1952
Queen since 6 February 1952
The monarch is hereditary and holds that position for life or until
abdication. The governor and commissioner are appointed by
the Queen
Next scheduled election: None
abdication. The governor and commissioner are appointed by
the Queen
Next scheduled election: None
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Mike Warren
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council
since 1 January 2008
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council
since 1 January 2008
Governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island
mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election
last held 24 December 2009
Next scheduled election: December 2012
mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election
last held 24 December 2009
Next scheduled election: December 2012
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
| RELIGIONS |
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Overseas territory of the UK with no administrative division. Legal system is comprised of local island by-laws
Executive: Monarch represented by Governor and Commissioner; mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year
term; elections: last held on 24 December 2009 (next to be held December 2012)
Legislative: Unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 5 elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members,
2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising
between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held last held in 24 December 2009 (next to be held December 2010)
Judicial: Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor
Executive: Monarch represented by Governor and Commissioner; mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year
term; elections: last held on 24 December 2009 (next to be held December 2012)
Legislative: Unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 5 elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members,
2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising
between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held last held in 24 December 2009 (next to be held December 2010)
Judicial: Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor
| LANGUAGES |
English (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
| BRIEF HISTORY |
The original settlers of the Pitcairn Islands (Ducie, Henderson, Oeno and Pitcairn) were Polynesians who appear to have
lived on Pitcairn and Henderson for several centuries. However, although archaeologists believe that Polynesians were
living on Pitcairn as late as the 15th century, the islands were uninhabited when they were discovered by Europeans.
Ducie and Henderson Islands are believed to have been discovered by Europeans on 26 January 1606 by Portuguese
sailor Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who named them La Encarnación and San Juan Bautista respectively. However, some
sources express doubt about exactly which of the islands were visited and named by Quiros, suggesting that Quiros’ La
Encarnación may actually have been Henderson Island, and San Juan Bautista may have been Pitcairn Island. Ducie
Island was rediscovered in 1791 by the British Capt. Edwards aboard H.M.S. Pandora, and named after Baron Francis
Ducie, a captain in the Royal Navy. It was annexed by Britain on 19 December 1902, and in 1938 it was formally
incorporated into Pitcairn to become part of a single administrative district (the "Pitcairn Group of Islands".) Henderson
Island was rediscovered on 17 January 1819 by British Capt. Henderson of the British East India Company ship
Hercules. On the 2 March 1819, Captain Henry King, sailing aboard the Elizabeth, landed on the island to find the King's
colours already flying. His crew scratched the name of their ship into a tree and for some years the island's name was
Elizabeth or Henderson interchangeably. Henderson Island was annexed by Britain and incorporated into Pitcairn in 1938.
Oeno Island was discovered on the 26 January 1824 by U.S. Captain George Worth aboard the whaler Oeno. On the
10th July 1902 Oeno was annexed by Britain. It was incorporated into Pitcairn in 1938. Pitcairn Island itself was
discovered on July 3, 1767 by the crew of the British sloop HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Philip Carteret
(though according to some it had perhaps been visited by Quiros in 1606). It was named after Midshipman Robert
Pitcairn, a fifteen-year-old crewmember who was the first to sight the island. (Pitcairn was the son of British Marine
Officer John Pitcairn, who was second in command of British forces stationed in Massachusetts during the American
Revolutionary War and was fatally wounded in one of the defining battles of that war, the Battle of Bunker Hill.)
In 1790, the mutineers of HMAV Bounty and their Tahitian companions, some of whom may have been kidnapped from
Tahiti, settled on Pitcairn Island and set fire to the Bounty. The wreck is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay. The ship
itself was discovered in 1957 by National Geographic explorer Luis Marden. Although the settlers were able to survive
by farming and fishing, the initial period of settlement was marked by serious tensions among the settlers. Alcoholism,
murder, disease and other ills took the lives of most mutineers and Tahitian men. John Adams and Ned Young turned to
the Scriptures using the ship's Bible as their guide for a new and peaceful society. Young eventually died of an asthmatic
infection. The Pitcairners also converted to Christianity; however they would later convert from their existing form of
Christianity to Adventism after a successful Adventist mission in the 1890s. When the American sailing ship Topaz found
Pitcairn again, John Adams was granted amnesty for his mutiny. The island became a British colony in 1838. By the mid-
1850s the Pitcairn community was outgrowing the island and its leaders appealed to the British government for assistance.
They were offered Norfolk Island and on 3 May 1856, the entire community of 193 people set sail for Norfolk on board
the Morayshire, arriving on 8 June after a miserable five-week trip. But after eighteen months on Norfolk, seventeen of
the Pitcairners returned to their home island; five years later another twenty-seven did the same. Since a population peak
of 233 in 1937, the island has been suffering from emigration, primarily to New Zealand, leaving some fifty people living
on Pitcairn. There are allegations of a long history and tradition of sexual abuse of girls as young as 7, which culminated in
2004 in the charging of seven men living on Pitcairn, and another six now living abroad, with sex-related offences,
including rape. On October 25, 2004, six men were convicted, including Steve Christian, the island's mayor at the time.
See Pitcairn rape trial of 2004. The British government has decided to set up a prison for only the island, and spend an
annual budget of $950,000, after the six men lost their final appeal.
Source: Wikipedia History of Pitcairn Islands
lived on Pitcairn and Henderson for several centuries. However, although archaeologists believe that Polynesians were
living on Pitcairn as late as the 15th century, the islands were uninhabited when they were discovered by Europeans.
Ducie and Henderson Islands are believed to have been discovered by Europeans on 26 January 1606 by Portuguese
sailor Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who named them La Encarnación and San Juan Bautista respectively. However, some
sources express doubt about exactly which of the islands were visited and named by Quiros, suggesting that Quiros’ La
Encarnación may actually have been Henderson Island, and San Juan Bautista may have been Pitcairn Island. Ducie
Island was rediscovered in 1791 by the British Capt. Edwards aboard H.M.S. Pandora, and named after Baron Francis
Ducie, a captain in the Royal Navy. It was annexed by Britain on 19 December 1902, and in 1938 it was formally
incorporated into Pitcairn to become part of a single administrative district (the "Pitcairn Group of Islands".) Henderson
Island was rediscovered on 17 January 1819 by British Capt. Henderson of the British East India Company ship
Hercules. On the 2 March 1819, Captain Henry King, sailing aboard the Elizabeth, landed on the island to find the King's
colours already flying. His crew scratched the name of their ship into a tree and for some years the island's name was
Elizabeth or Henderson interchangeably. Henderson Island was annexed by Britain and incorporated into Pitcairn in 1938.
Oeno Island was discovered on the 26 January 1824 by U.S. Captain George Worth aboard the whaler Oeno. On the
10th July 1902 Oeno was annexed by Britain. It was incorporated into Pitcairn in 1938. Pitcairn Island itself was
discovered on July 3, 1767 by the crew of the British sloop HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Philip Carteret
(though according to some it had perhaps been visited by Quiros in 1606). It was named after Midshipman Robert
Pitcairn, a fifteen-year-old crewmember who was the first to sight the island. (Pitcairn was the son of British Marine
Officer John Pitcairn, who was second in command of British forces stationed in Massachusetts during the American
Revolutionary War and was fatally wounded in one of the defining battles of that war, the Battle of Bunker Hill.)
In 1790, the mutineers of HMAV Bounty and their Tahitian companions, some of whom may have been kidnapped from
Tahiti, settled on Pitcairn Island and set fire to the Bounty. The wreck is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay. The ship
itself was discovered in 1957 by National Geographic explorer Luis Marden. Although the settlers were able to survive
by farming and fishing, the initial period of settlement was marked by serious tensions among the settlers. Alcoholism,
murder, disease and other ills took the lives of most mutineers and Tahitian men. John Adams and Ned Young turned to
the Scriptures using the ship's Bible as their guide for a new and peaceful society. Young eventually died of an asthmatic
infection. The Pitcairners also converted to Christianity; however they would later convert from their existing form of
Christianity to Adventism after a successful Adventist mission in the 1890s. When the American sailing ship Topaz found
Pitcairn again, John Adams was granted amnesty for his mutiny. The island became a British colony in 1838. By the mid-
1850s the Pitcairn community was outgrowing the island and its leaders appealed to the British government for assistance.
They were offered Norfolk Island and on 3 May 1856, the entire community of 193 people set sail for Norfolk on board
the Morayshire, arriving on 8 June after a miserable five-week trip. But after eighteen months on Norfolk, seventeen of
the Pitcairners returned to their home island; five years later another twenty-seven did the same. Since a population peak
of 233 in 1937, the island has been suffering from emigration, primarily to New Zealand, leaving some fifty people living
on Pitcairn. There are allegations of a long history and tradition of sexual abuse of girls as young as 7, which culminated in
2004 in the charging of seven men living on Pitcairn, and another six now living abroad, with sex-related offences,
including rape. On October 25, 2004, six men were convicted, including Steve Christian, the island's mayor at the time.
See Pitcairn rape trial of 2004. The British government has decided to set up a prison for only the island, and spend an
annual budget of $950,000, after the six men lost their final appeal.
Source: Wikipedia History of Pitcairn Islands
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The
fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons,
bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of
Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter
crew to load or unload passing ships.
fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons,
bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of
Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter
crew to load or unload passing ships.
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
The Queen is represented by the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, who is the British High Commissioner to New
Zealand, currently George Fergusson. The Governor's Representative is the liaison person between the governor and
the Island Council - this is probably the most remote and inaccessible diplomatic posting in the world. The non-resident
Commissioner, appointed by the Governor, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the island as well as for
its economic regeneration. But because the high commissioner does not live on the island, its daily affairs are taken care
of by the mayor of Pitcairn from 1999 onwards. Island Magistrate is a governor appointed job. Chairman of the
Internal Committee is an elected official. Until 30 October 2004, the mayor was Steve Christian; after his rape
conviction on October 24, 2004, Christian was dismissed (after refusing to resign). Brenda Christian was selected by
the Island Council, to be mayor for November and December 2004, until an election was held. Jay Warren was
elected on December 15, 2004. The island Mayor is elected by popular vote for a three-year term. In December
2007, Mike Warren succeeded Jay Warren as Mayor and was reelected 24 December 2009.
The Pitcairn Islands have a unicameral Island Council (10 seats - The Mayor and the Chairman of the Island Council
both hold membership ex officio; 4 elected by popular vote, 1 co-opted by the Chairman and the 4 other elected
members; 2 appointed by the Governor including the Island Secretary (ex officio); the tenth seat is reserved for a
Commissioner (non-resident) who liaises between the Council and the Governor. Except for the Mayor, who has a
three year term, and the Island Secretary, whose term is indefinite, members serve one-year terms.
Council elections are held on 24 December every year. A new constitution was adopted on 17 February 2010 and
declared at a public assembly in the town square of Adamstown by Governor Fergusson to all 53 island residents.
Zealand, currently George Fergusson. The Governor's Representative is the liaison person between the governor and
the Island Council - this is probably the most remote and inaccessible diplomatic posting in the world. The non-resident
Commissioner, appointed by the Governor, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the island as well as for
its economic regeneration. But because the high commissioner does not live on the island, its daily affairs are taken care
of by the mayor of Pitcairn from 1999 onwards. Island Magistrate is a governor appointed job. Chairman of the
Internal Committee is an elected official. Until 30 October 2004, the mayor was Steve Christian; after his rape
conviction on October 24, 2004, Christian was dismissed (after refusing to resign). Brenda Christian was selected by
the Island Council, to be mayor for November and December 2004, until an election was held. Jay Warren was
elected on December 15, 2004. The island Mayor is elected by popular vote for a three-year term. In December
2007, Mike Warren succeeded Jay Warren as Mayor and was reelected 24 December 2009.
The Pitcairn Islands have a unicameral Island Council (10 seats - The Mayor and the Chairman of the Island Council
both hold membership ex officio; 4 elected by popular vote, 1 co-opted by the Chairman and the 4 other elected
members; 2 appointed by the Governor including the Island Secretary (ex officio); the tenth seat is reserved for a
Commissioner (non-resident) who liaises between the Council and the Governor. Except for the Mayor, who has a
three year term, and the Island Secretary, whose term is indefinite, members serve one-year terms.
Council elections are held on 24 December every year. A new constitution was adopted on 17 February 2010 and
declared at a public assembly in the town square of Adamstown by Governor Fergusson to all 53 island residents.
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
None reported.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
None reported.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
No reports from U.S. State Department mentioning Pitcairn Islands after exhaustive search of their data base. Please
forward any information you may have regarding U.S. Sate Department efforts on behalf of Pitcairn Islands to the Pax
Gaea World Post Human Rights Report editor at the link below.
Contact the editor »
forward any information you may have regarding U.S. Sate Department efforts on behalf of Pitcairn Islands to the Pax
Gaea World Post Human Rights Report editor at the link below.
Contact the editor »
BRIEFING FROM GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO END ALL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN
BRIEFING FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE COUNTRY REPORT TASK FORCES – October 2007
From Peter Newell, Coordinator, Global Initiative
Of the State parties to be considered by the Country Report Task Forces during the 91st session of the Human Rights Committee,
none has prohibited corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home. In its report to the HRC, the UK effectively
declares its commitment to not introducing full prohibition.
Prohibition of corporal punishment in schools is yet to be enacted in Panama and Tunisia and in some of the Overseas Territories
and Crown Dependencies of the UK. In all these States, corporal punishment remains lawful in some or all alternative care contexts.
We hope that the Committee will question States in detail on their progress towards eliminating all corporal punishment of children,
and – mindful of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and that Committee’s general comment
No. 8 (2006) on “The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment”
– make recommendations that State parties prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, including the home and schools, and
support this with appropriate public education and professional training on positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline.
The UN Secretary General’s Study on violence against children, submitted to the General Assembly in October 2006, recommends
universal prohibition of all corporal punishment, setting a goal of 2009 (A/61/299, paras. 97 and 116).
UK – sixth report (CCPR/C/GBR/6)
Corporal punishment is lawful in the home in the UK, in all of the Overseas Territories (with the possible exception of the Pitcairn
Islands) and in the Crown Dependencies.
Click here to read more »
BRIEFING FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE COUNTRY REPORT TASK FORCES – October 2007
From Peter Newell, Coordinator, Global Initiative
Of the State parties to be considered by the Country Report Task Forces during the 91st session of the Human Rights Committee,
none has prohibited corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home. In its report to the HRC, the UK effectively
declares its commitment to not introducing full prohibition.
Prohibition of corporal punishment in schools is yet to be enacted in Panama and Tunisia and in some of the Overseas Territories
and Crown Dependencies of the UK. In all these States, corporal punishment remains lawful in some or all alternative care contexts.
We hope that the Committee will question States in detail on their progress towards eliminating all corporal punishment of children,
and – mindful of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and that Committee’s general comment
No. 8 (2006) on “The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment”
– make recommendations that State parties prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, including the home and schools, and
support this with appropriate public education and professional training on positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline.
The UN Secretary General’s Study on violence against children, submitted to the General Assembly in October 2006, recommends
universal prohibition of all corporal punishment, setting a goal of 2009 (A/61/299, paras. 97 and 116).
UK – sixth report (CCPR/C/GBR/6)
Corporal punishment is lawful in the home in the UK, in all of the Overseas Territories (with the possible exception of the Pitcairn
Islands) and in the Crown Dependencies.
Click here to read more »
No reports from Freedom House mentioning Pitcairn Islands after exhaustive search of their data base. Please forward
any information you may have regarding Freedom House efforts on behalf of Pitcairn Islands to the Pax Gaea World Post
Human Rights Report editor at the link below.
Contact the editor »
any information you may have regarding Freedom House efforts on behalf of Pitcairn Islands to the Pax Gaea World Post
Human Rights Report editor at the link below.
Contact the editor »
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties
under article 40 of the Covenant
Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Part I
1. The Committee considered the fifth periodic report submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(CCPR/C/UK/99/5) and the fourth and fifth combined report on the Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom and Northern
Ireland (CCPR/C/UKOT/5) at its 1960th, 1961st, 1962nd and 1963rd meetings, held on 17 and 18 October 2001. The Committee
adopted the following concluding observations at its 1976th and 1977th meetings, held on 29 October 2001.
Part III
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
23. The Committee is deeply concerned that the protection of Covenant rights in the overseas territories is weaker and more
irregular than in the metropolitan area. The Committee regrets that the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998, which
significantly improve the protection of many rights contained in the Covenant, do not extend to the overseas territories (except, to
an extent, Pitcairn and St Helena). The Committee regrets that the Covenant rights are not incorporated into the legislation of the
territories, and that its provisions cannot be invoked directly before or applied by the judiciary. The consequences are especially
regrettable in those overseas territories (British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, St. Helena and Pitcairn) whose constitutions do not
contain chapters on fundamental rights. In this regard, the Committee would welcome answers to the questions not dealt with by
the delegation.
Click here to read more »
under article 40 of the Covenant
Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Part I
1. The Committee considered the fifth periodic report submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(CCPR/C/UK/99/5) and the fourth and fifth combined report on the Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom and Northern
Ireland (CCPR/C/UKOT/5) at its 1960th, 1961st, 1962nd and 1963rd meetings, held on 17 and 18 October 2001. The Committee
adopted the following concluding observations at its 1976th and 1977th meetings, held on 29 October 2001.
Part III
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
23. The Committee is deeply concerned that the protection of Covenant rights in the overseas territories is weaker and more
irregular than in the metropolitan area. The Committee regrets that the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998, which
significantly improve the protection of many rights contained in the Covenant, do not extend to the overseas territories (except, to
an extent, Pitcairn and St Helena). The Committee regrets that the Covenant rights are not incorporated into the legislation of the
territories, and that its provisions cannot be invoked directly before or applied by the judiciary. The consequences are especially
regrettable in those overseas territories (British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, St. Helena and Pitcairn) whose constitutions do not
contain chapters on fundamental rights. In this regard, the Committee would welcome answers to the questions not dealt with by
the delegation.
Click here to read more »
III. COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES SUPPORTING THE BAN TREATY
United Kingdom(11) (London)
The U.K. itself does not have a landmine problem although there have been reports of a limited number of landmines being used in
Northern Ireland. There is a serious problem of uncleared landmines in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, which are administered by
the U.K. but claimed by Argentina. Mines were implanted by Argentine forces during the war with the U.K. which ended in 1982.
There are 117 identified minefields, with a total of 25-30,000 landmines. Due to the environment, the exact locations of many of
these mines are not known. Eighty percent were laid in peat and beach sand, both of which are subject to movement.(12)
The U.K. was a major antipersonnel mine producer and exporter in the past. On July 27, 1994 it adopted a limited moratorium on
the export of "dumb" mines. On April 23, 1996 it expanded its export moratorium to include all antipersonnel mines, and declared a
suspension of use, except with ministerial authorization. The U.K.'s commitment to a ban intensified greatly with the Labour Party
victory and on May 21, 1997 the U.K. permanently banned the production, import and export of antipersonnel mines and
committed itself to the destruction of its stockpiles by 2005 (at the latest).
The U.K. co-sponsored UNGA Resolution 51/45S and voted "Yes." It endorsed the Brussels Declaration and participated in the Oslo
negotiations. It is expected to sign the treaty in December.
11. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises England. Scotland and Wales. Its
Dependent Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St.
Helena and St. Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Click here to read more »
United Kingdom(11) (London)
The U.K. itself does not have a landmine problem although there have been reports of a limited number of landmines being used in
Northern Ireland. There is a serious problem of uncleared landmines in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, which are administered by
the U.K. but claimed by Argentina. Mines were implanted by Argentine forces during the war with the U.K. which ended in 1982.
There are 117 identified minefields, with a total of 25-30,000 landmines. Due to the environment, the exact locations of many of
these mines are not known. Eighty percent were laid in peat and beach sand, both of which are subject to movement.(12)
The U.K. was a major antipersonnel mine producer and exporter in the past. On July 27, 1994 it adopted a limited moratorium on
the export of "dumb" mines. On April 23, 1996 it expanded its export moratorium to include all antipersonnel mines, and declared a
suspension of use, except with ministerial authorization. The U.K.'s commitment to a ban intensified greatly with the Labour Party
victory and on May 21, 1997 the U.K. permanently banned the production, import and export of antipersonnel mines and
committed itself to the destruction of its stockpiles by 2005 (at the latest).
The U.K. co-sponsored UNGA Resolution 51/45S and voted "Yes." It endorsed the Brussels Declaration and participated in the Oslo
negotiations. It is expected to sign the treaty in December.
11. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises England. Scotland and Wales. Its
Dependent Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St.
Helena and St. Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Click here to read more »
The British Pacific territory of Pitcairn Island has a new constitution.
Radaus
Fri, 12 Mar 2010
ADAMSTOWN ---- The British Pacific territory of Pitcairn Island has a new constitution.
It was officially proclaimed in a ceremony attended by the island's population of 53.
The Governor of Pitcairn Island, Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand, George Fergusson said the new constitution will
help protect human rights, and he has defended its creation on a territory this small.
“It's a reasonable question. That question comes up about almost anything to do with a community of 50 people. But without being
to pompous about it, everybody, nowadays, needs an expression of rights. We are doing similar things in all the other overseas
British territories.”
The constitution was put together after consultations with almost people on Pitcairn Island.
Click here to read more »
Radaus
Fri, 12 Mar 2010
ADAMSTOWN ---- The British Pacific territory of Pitcairn Island has a new constitution.
It was officially proclaimed in a ceremony attended by the island's population of 53.
The Governor of Pitcairn Island, Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand, George Fergusson said the new constitution will
help protect human rights, and he has defended its creation on a territory this small.
“It's a reasonable question. That question comes up about almost anything to do with a community of 50 people. But without being
to pompous about it, everybody, nowadays, needs an expression of rights. We are doing similar things in all the other overseas
British territories.”
The constitution was put together after consultations with almost people on Pitcairn Island.
Click here to read more »
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2010 No. 244
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010
Laid before Parliament 17th February 2010
PART 9
OMBUDSMAN
Ombudsman
59.—(1) The Governor may from time to time appoint an Ombudsman to investigate, in accordance with any Ordinance enacted
under section 36, any complaint of maladministration in the government of Pitcairn or such other matters as may be prescribed by
Ordinance.
(2) No person shall be qualified to be appointed as an Ombudsman if he or she is a member of the Island Council or an officer of
the Pitcairn Public Service.
(3) An Ombudsman shall vacate office—
(a) at the expiration of the period specified in the instrument by which he or she was appointed;
(b) if he or she resigns office by writing under his or her hand addressed to the Governor;
(c) if he or she becomes a member of the Island Council or an officer of the Pitcairn Public Service; or
(d) if the Governor directs that he or she shall be removed from office for inability to discharge the functions of the office
(whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or from any other cause) or for misbehaviour.
Functions of Ombudsman
60.—(1) An Ombudsman shall have such functions, powers and jurisdiction as may be prescribed by Ordinance.
(2) In the investigation of any complaint or other matter, an Ombudsman shall act independently and shall not be subject to the
direction or control of the Governor, the Island Council or any other person or authority.
Click here to read more »
2010 No. 244
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010
Laid before Parliament 17th February 2010
PART 9
OMBUDSMAN
Ombudsman
59.—(1) The Governor may from time to time appoint an Ombudsman to investigate, in accordance with any Ordinance enacted
under section 36, any complaint of maladministration in the government of Pitcairn or such other matters as may be prescribed by
Ordinance.
(2) No person shall be qualified to be appointed as an Ombudsman if he or she is a member of the Island Council or an officer of
the Pitcairn Public Service.
(3) An Ombudsman shall vacate office—
(a) at the expiration of the period specified in the instrument by which he or she was appointed;
(b) if he or she resigns office by writing under his or her hand addressed to the Governor;
(c) if he or she becomes a member of the Island Council or an officer of the Pitcairn Public Service; or
(d) if the Governor directs that he or she shall be removed from office for inability to discharge the functions of the office
(whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or from any other cause) or for misbehaviour.
Functions of Ombudsman
60.—(1) An Ombudsman shall have such functions, powers and jurisdiction as may be prescribed by Ordinance.
(2) In the investigation of any complaint or other matter, an Ombudsman shall act independently and shall not be subject to the
direction or control of the Governor, the Island Council or any other person or authority.
Click here to read more »
Volume 4 No 3
March 2010
THE BACK PAGE
British authorities have for years actively discouraged children coming to Pitcairn (Dem Tull September 2008). No contracted
officials like the teacher, pastor or police officer are allowed to bring their children here and visitors, under the age of 15, even
Pitcairn relatives from New Zealand, are not encouraged to come here. Yachts with children onboard are warned about the risk of
coming ashore. Faced with this policy the community has done its best to overcome the British restrictions. Our children are
always accompanied to and from school by their parents or relatives, they never go swimming alone anymore, tree climbing and
other risky games are discouraged, and at Sea Scout meetings they learn to look after themselves. Our aim is to convince London
that our children are safe and to have the ban lifted. But, still the ban persists.
At a public meeting 27th October 2008 we asked if it would help if community members volunteered to do the same Child
Safeguarding Course which is compulsory for all officials coming here. Though we have had social workers here for eight years,
no course was previously offered to locals on the island. A vote by show of hands was almost unanimous - islanders would
undertake the course if offered to them. (Dem Tull October 2008) One year later, on 10th December 2009 a New Zealand Child
Protection Services Trainer arrived on the Claymore II to hold workshops for those interested over the two afternoons that she
would be on the island. About twenty people altogether attended.
Our 9 Pitcairn children must be the most closely monitored children in the world, with a NZ police officer and social worker,
whose main object is to keep the seven children safe in a community of 50-odd people, employed full-time Circumstances and
relationships are very transparent in such a small community, there are few secrets. We felt we were making progress, indeed
"moving forward" as the British have urged us to do. But, at a recent public meeting the Governor made it clear that the ban is still
on. And, London states that they have reason to question child safety on Pitcairn, for they had received reports of men taking
pictures at the school children's concert and of an adult giving a hug to a school girl during Council's visit to school (Dem Tull June
2009). Those incidents were not reported to local police as such and subsequently investigated, so whoever reported these claims
appears to have had direct access to London. The police officer has now investigated both these reports, as people here were upset
about the harm that unsubstantiated reporting could do. He has put the matters to rest after warning every one of us against
malicious gossip, reminding all that here, by law, we can be fined $50 for gossiping – a law used by Governor Fell in 2002. All
suspicious incidents should be reported to the police for investigating, and if necessary, he will take it further.
In Council 13th January 2010 it was announced from the Governor's office that the members of the proposed "Crisis Group" (to
get into action if a child is thought to be in danger) will exclude all islanders. The local police officer and the (prospective) local
community worker will be removed from the group. Membership will entail the doctor, the teacher, the NZ police officer and the
Children's Officer (the Governor's Representative). Council members as well as the policy group from 2008 expressed their
disappointment, and asked the Governor's Office "why?" It seems the decision came from London, where Pitcairn‟s child safety
policies and practices had been reviewed - by people who may or may not ever have been on Pitcairn, based on the recent
mismanaged and unsubstantiated reports.
It is worth noting that the make-up of our „Crisis Group‟ reflects the current world wide trend of applying what is referred to as a
„multi-disciplinary‟ approach to child protection. Where in the past child protection was considered to be medical matter today it is
approached from legal, medical and sociological perspectives. The rationale of the multidisciplinary approach is that it serves as a
network of checks and balances, from a range of perspectives, which are designed to optimise the number of accurately, identified
cases of child abuse. Whilst the net of accountability for identifying and dealing with child abuse is now cast wider than ever
before, the approach itself is not fool-proof by any means and it has within it some unexpected consequences.
The complexity introduced by the multidisciplinary approach can (and has been elsewhere) used as grounds for denying liability on
the part of social services towards children who were not rescued from abuse. Put simply this means it can become difficult to
define the lines of accountability when so many „professionals‟ are involved accurately accessing abuse claims. What this means is
that when allegations of abuse are not satisfactorily dealt with (as has been the case here) those who are tasked with the
responsibility of child protection are too easily able to locate a „failure to protect‟ outside of their own inefficiencies.
Click here to read more »
March 2010
THE BACK PAGE
British authorities have for years actively discouraged children coming to Pitcairn (Dem Tull September 2008). No contracted
officials like the teacher, pastor or police officer are allowed to bring their children here and visitors, under the age of 15, even
Pitcairn relatives from New Zealand, are not encouraged to come here. Yachts with children onboard are warned about the risk of
coming ashore. Faced with this policy the community has done its best to overcome the British restrictions. Our children are
always accompanied to and from school by their parents or relatives, they never go swimming alone anymore, tree climbing and
other risky games are discouraged, and at Sea Scout meetings they learn to look after themselves. Our aim is to convince London
that our children are safe and to have the ban lifted. But, still the ban persists.
At a public meeting 27th October 2008 we asked if it would help if community members volunteered to do the same Child
Safeguarding Course which is compulsory for all officials coming here. Though we have had social workers here for eight years,
no course was previously offered to locals on the island. A vote by show of hands was almost unanimous - islanders would
undertake the course if offered to them. (Dem Tull October 2008) One year later, on 10th December 2009 a New Zealand Child
Protection Services Trainer arrived on the Claymore II to hold workshops for those interested over the two afternoons that she
would be on the island. About twenty people altogether attended.
Our 9 Pitcairn children must be the most closely monitored children in the world, with a NZ police officer and social worker,
whose main object is to keep the seven children safe in a community of 50-odd people, employed full-time Circumstances and
relationships are very transparent in such a small community, there are few secrets. We felt we were making progress, indeed
"moving forward" as the British have urged us to do. But, at a recent public meeting the Governor made it clear that the ban is still
on. And, London states that they have reason to question child safety on Pitcairn, for they had received reports of men taking
pictures at the school children's concert and of an adult giving a hug to a school girl during Council's visit to school (Dem Tull June
2009). Those incidents were not reported to local police as such and subsequently investigated, so whoever reported these claims
appears to have had direct access to London. The police officer has now investigated both these reports, as people here were upset
about the harm that unsubstantiated reporting could do. He has put the matters to rest after warning every one of us against
malicious gossip, reminding all that here, by law, we can be fined $50 for gossiping – a law used by Governor Fell in 2002. All
suspicious incidents should be reported to the police for investigating, and if necessary, he will take it further.
In Council 13th January 2010 it was announced from the Governor's office that the members of the proposed "Crisis Group" (to
get into action if a child is thought to be in danger) will exclude all islanders. The local police officer and the (prospective) local
community worker will be removed from the group. Membership will entail the doctor, the teacher, the NZ police officer and the
Children's Officer (the Governor's Representative). Council members as well as the policy group from 2008 expressed their
disappointment, and asked the Governor's Office "why?" It seems the decision came from London, where Pitcairn‟s child safety
policies and practices had been reviewed - by people who may or may not ever have been on Pitcairn, based on the recent
mismanaged and unsubstantiated reports.
It is worth noting that the make-up of our „Crisis Group‟ reflects the current world wide trend of applying what is referred to as a
„multi-disciplinary‟ approach to child protection. Where in the past child protection was considered to be medical matter today it is
approached from legal, medical and sociological perspectives. The rationale of the multidisciplinary approach is that it serves as a
network of checks and balances, from a range of perspectives, which are designed to optimise the number of accurately, identified
cases of child abuse. Whilst the net of accountability for identifying and dealing with child abuse is now cast wider than ever
before, the approach itself is not fool-proof by any means and it has within it some unexpected consequences.
The complexity introduced by the multidisciplinary approach can (and has been elsewhere) used as grounds for denying liability on
the part of social services towards children who were not rescued from abuse. Put simply this means it can become difficult to
define the lines of accountability when so many „professionals‟ are involved accurately accessing abuse claims. What this means is
that when allegations of abuse are not satisfactorily dealt with (as has been the case here) those who are tasked with the
responsibility of child protection are too easily able to locate a „failure to protect‟ outside of their own inefficiencies.
Click here to read more »
Represented by
George Fergusson
UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and
Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn
Islands l since 1 April 2006
George Fergusson
UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and
Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn
Islands l since 1 April 2006
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Represented by
Leslie Jaques
Commissioner (nonresident) of the
Pitcairn Islands l since 1 April 2006
Leslie Jaques
Commissioner (nonresident) of the
Pitcairn Islands l since 1 April 2006
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
