UN human rights body challenges UK government's human rights record

Rachel Brett, a Representative of the Quaker United Nations Office, explains how the UN Human Rights Committee recently held the UK government to account on its human rights record.

The UK should:

• review its detention policy with regard to asylum seekers
• review its legislation on antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs)
• ensure that all individuals, including persons suspected of terrorism, are not returned to another country if there are substantial reasons for fearing that they would be subjected to torture
• investigate allegations related to transit through its territory of rendition flights
• ensure that any terrorist suspect arrested should be promptly informed of any charge against him or her
• ensure that the Chagos islanders can exercise their right to return to their territory

These are only a few of the conclusions of the Human Rights Committee (18 independent experts from different countries and regions) which supervises the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

As a party to the Covenant, the UK has to report on what it has done to implement it. The British delegation was closely questioned by the Committee, who were clearly not impressed with their protection of civil and political rights.

On this occasion, QUNO (Quaker United Nations Office) had not submitted information to the Committee as many other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were doing so. Instead, since the UK is also reporting on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and, for the first time, the Child Soldiers Protocol, QUNO concentrated its work there.

The main NGO report on the Protocol was submitted on behalf of the UK Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, of which Quakers are an active part. QUNO complemented this by focussing primarily on child asylum-seekers.

In consequence, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has asked the UK to provide information in writing on these issues, as well as in relation to recruitment and deployment of under-18s in the UK armed forces, their use for armed guard duty, and a range of other issues. The written responses will be background for the Committee’s ‘dialogue’ with the UK scheduled for 23–24 September, after which the Committee will adopt its conclusions and recommendations.

The work of these UN treaty bodies is important, but their conclusions are unlikely to be implemented unless people in the UK take them up with MPs, government representatives, and others in a position to act on or press for their implementation.

The full Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, as well as the UK government report, the Committee’s list of issues and the government’s written responses to these, and the NGO submissions can all be found on http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/hrcs93.htm

Contact:
quno@quno.ch
+41 22 748 4800
http://www.quno.org/