Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Rejected
Paragraph: 108
Prioritising trade over human rights, enabling violations and consumer complicity, is unacceptable.
Conclusion
It is unacceptable that trade should be prioritised over human rights to the extent that states that regularly violate human rights can continue to do so unsanctioned and our consumers, wittingly or unwittingly, participate indirectly by buying products made in inhumane conditions.
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's conclusion, stating that trade is not being prioritised over human rights and outlining existing measures to address human rights violations in supply chains.
Paragraph Reference:
108
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government does not agree that trade is being prioritised over human rights. The UK continues to work with international partners and through multilateral institutions to address human rights violations and abuses globally, including those with links to supply chains. The UK uses all appropriate levers to promote and protect human rights as set out in the Integrated Review Refresh. The Government published its Business and Human Rights statement, a comprehensive document on the UK’s approach to implementing the UN Guiding Principles, in March 2023. This reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to championing human rights globally including by supporting UK businesses to operate responsibly.