Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
7th Report - Transnational repression in the UK
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
HC 681
Published 30 July 2025
Recommendations
35
Acknowledged
The UK should seek to play a leading and proactive role in shaping the Global...
Recommendation
The UK should seek to play a leading and proactive role in shaping the Global response to TNR as part of the US chaired Working Group on Transnational Repression. The Government should also raise the issue at the next Commonwealth …
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Government Response Summary
The government states its commitment to working with international partners and through multilateral channels like G7 to raise awareness and strengthen resilience to TNR, and to enhance information sharing. However, it does not explicitly confirm a leading role in the US-chaired Working Group or raising the issue at CHOGM.
Ministry of Justice
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Conclusions (3)
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
However, we are concerned by the Government’s decision not to adopt a formal definition of TNR. Whilst we acknowledge the difficulties in adopting a single globally accepted definition, we are not persuaded that the existence of differing national definitions would hinder international cooperation on this issue. Adopting a formal UK …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of robust data and strengthening its understanding of transnational repression (TNR), stating it is taking active steps to improve data collection and analysis and will continue to develop its understanding, but it does not commit to adopting a formal UK definition of TNR.
21
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We are deeply concerned by the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices by certain member states. Refusal by the INTERPOL secretariat to acknowledge that there is a problem and to take remedial action poses a significant threat to the rights and freedoms of individuals targeted by authoritarian regimes and sends a …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern about the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices, stating it monitors existing safeguards, works with INTERPOL on reforms, and will continue to work with partners to ensure the system's legitimacy.
30
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 do not capture the full range of TNR tactics, including violence, intimidation, harassment, illegal deportations, abductions and abuse of international mechanisms such as INTERPOL. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
Government Response Summary
The government states it keeps sanctions powers and regimes under review to respond to new developments, and that it can impose sanctions for state-directed crimes, including TNR activities, citing recent examples of such sanctions. It also notes the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 has been updated.