Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Government explicitly incorporate transnational repression into the UK’s human rights reporting...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government explicitly incorporate transnational repression into the UK’s human rights reporting frameworks. In particular, references to TNR should be included in the next iterations of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report and in the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance. The UK should also ensure that diplomatic responses, such as the expulsion of officials, public demarches, and the imposition of sanctions, are not only available in principle but are actively and visibly deployed in response to serious incidents. (Recommendation, Paragraph 87)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the recommendation, stating it already deploys diplomatic measures against TNR. Regarding explicit incorporation into reporting frameworks, it will 'consider' including TNR in a future Human Rights and Democracy Report and as part of its ongoing review of the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
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.