The FCO's human rights work 2010-11
27 April 2011
This is the first of two planned evidence sessions for the Committee’s inquiry into The FCO’s human rights work 2010-11. The Committee aims to scrutinise the FCO’s human rights work as presented in particular in the department’s latest annual human rights report (published at the end of March).
The session will be held on Wednesday 4 May 2011 at 2.30 pm in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House.
Witnesses
At 2.30 pm:
- Kate Allen, Director, Amnesty International UK; and
- David Mepham, UK Director, Human Rights Watch
In this first evidence session, the Committee will take evidence from the UK heads of two leading international human rights NGOs. Among other issues, the Committee is likely to seek their views on:
- the approach to overseas human rights promotion being adopted by the FCO under the current Government, and the extent to which this represents a change compared to the previous Government; and
- the relationship between the FCO’s human rights work and the emphasis which the Government is placing on the promotion of UK economic and commercial interests in UK foreign policy.
The Committee may also explore with its witnesses the FCO’s policies with respect to international human rights institutions, and with respect to human rights promotion in particular countries and regions, such as Afghanistan, Burma, China, the Middle East and North Africa, Pakistan, Russia or Sri Lanka.
At its second planned evidence session for this inquiry, the Committee will take evidence from the FCO Minister with responsibility for human rights policy, Jeremy Browne MP.