Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 16
16
The UK should form a coalition of ‘sanctuary states’ that will publicly recommit to the...
Conclusion
The UK should form a coalition of ‘sanctuary states’ that will publicly recommit to the principles of non-refoulement. Doing so will signal to members of persecuted minority groups such as the Uyghurs that they will be safe in these countries, and it will apply further diplomatic and reputational pressure on those states guilty of deporting Uyghurs to China. (Paragraph 36) 28 Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Combined response to Recommendations 16 and 17 The UK is committed to the principle of non-refoulement and has repeatedly called on other countries to respect their obligations, under Article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT), not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture. We are aware of examples where China has previously pressured third countries to return Uyghurs seeking refuge. UK Ministers and diplomats—working closely with likeminded partners—have previously intervened privately at senior levels with host governments in such cases. We have also attended extradition court hearings to demonstrate the seriousness with which we take this matter. These interventions have had some positive results. While we do not have plans to form a ‘coalition of sanctuary states’, we will continue to intervene through diplomatic channels where Uyghurs may be at risk of deportation. We will also continue to use a range of other diplomatic tools, including engagement through multilateral fora, to raise international awareness of the human rights violations being perpetrated against the Uyghurs, and to remind states of their obligations under UNCAT. However we believe that such action is most effective when conducted in concert with international partners, and we do not have plans to raise a bilateral complaint through UNCAT.