In May 2014, UNA-UK submitted evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's inquiry on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's (FCO) human rights work in 2013. UNA-UK's was the only submission to focus exclusively on the Committee's call for evidence on "The UK’s role on the UN Human Rights Council following its re-election there in November 2013".
Since its establishment in 2006, UNA-UK believes that overall the UK has had a positive impact at the Human Rights Council. The FCO's 2012 Human Rights and Democracy Report said election to the Council would allow it to “shape the UN system to be stronger and more effective” and ensure the UK will “stay at the forefront” of human rights. This contribution could, however, be strengthened, and the submitted evidence made the case for the UK's role to be focussed on three key areas:
- Strengthening the Human Rights Council's mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures
- Leading by example, setting best practice and raising the level of ambition within the Council
- Stimulating change on the ground by securing effective, tangible human rights outcomes
The evidence also considers some of the recent developments and trends at the Human Rights Council, and what constraints and opportunities may arise during the UK's 2014-16 term.
The substance of this evidence has since been published as part of a broader UNA-UK report, which has been forwarded to H.E. Karen Pierce, UK Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, and Baroness Warsi, Senior Minister of State at the FCO, who recently took part in an oral evidence session with the Committee.
If you have any queries regarding the evidence, UNA-UK's report or its 'Fairer World' programme, please contact Hayley Richardson on richardson@una.org.uk.
