Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
TNR represents a growing threat to democratic values, the rule of law, and freedom of...
Conclusion
TNR represents a growing threat to democratic values, the rule of law, and freedom of expression. We are concerned that foreign policy decisions and international trade partnerships are often made without sufficient consideration of the TNR record of perpetrator states. A failure to acknowledge and respond to instances of TNR as part of the UK’s diplomatic relations with perpetrator countries risks undermining the UK’s credibility as a leader on global human rights issues and emboldening authoritarian 45 regimes to escalate TNR activities. Recognising TNR as a foreign policy concern will help to ensure a more coherent and principled approach to the UK’s TNR policies. (Conclusion, Paragraph 86)
Government Response Summary
The government states it already recognises TNR as a threat to national security, human rights, and democracy, and deploys diplomatic measures, including sanctions. It will consider including TNR in a future Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report and referencing it in the updated Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) guidance as part of a review.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1. The UK Government’s response to TNR recognises this activity is a threat to national security, human rights and democracy, which undermines the rule of law and sovereignty. When alerted to instances of TNR, the FCDO deploys the most appropriate diplomatic measures, both publicly and privately, to raise the cost to foreign states of carrying out interference activity and protect individuals at risk in the UK. 2. We have deployed a range of diplomatic measures to respond to this threat, as outlined in our response, including issuing international statements with likeminded partners, and utilising sanctions to support our response to this activity, further detail is included in the response to Recommendations 19- 21. 3. The Government takes the protection of individuals’ rights in the UK very seriously and is also firmly committed to furthering human rights around the world. We do this by investing in building partnerships, including with civil society, and by drawing on our diplomatic and development levers to deliver meaningful change on the ground. 4. The Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report series demonstrates the UK’s long-standing commitment to human rights and has previously included TNR. This Government has decided to refresh and streamline the format of the Report, spotlighting a small number of topics to showcase the FCDO’s delivery on human rights; we will consider including TNR in a future report. 5. The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) framework is HMG’s tool for assessing the human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) risks of our overseas security and justice assistance work and identifying measures to mitigate such risks. The FCDO is currently reviewing the OSJA guidance so that it remains fit for purpose and captures emerging risks that could contribute to violations of human rights and IHL. As part of this review, we will consider the Committee’s recommendation to reference TNR in the guidance.