Human rights solicitors relieved to hear potential change in foreign policy
Human rights lawyers and solicitors are slightly relieved to hear that William Hague wants to place more emphasis on protecting human rights within British foreign policy. The foreign secretary went on the say that the United Kingdom must always "have a conscience".
The foreign secretary went on further to argue that by "strengthening" the Governments focus on human rights it would improve the security and standing of the U.K.
Human rights solicitors and aid experts will advise minister on how best to improve their stance on protecting human rights.
Labour said that the current coalition Government have actually cut funding for human rights programmes.
Labour further remarked that the Foreign Office had been set to downgrade a human rights report which is said to analyse the human rights records of countries' from around the world. The Government had been completing these reports since 1997, and intended to stop doing so but public pressure and criticism prevented this from happening.
Mr Hague also promised a judicial inquiry into claims that British intelligence officers were complicit in the torture of terrorist suspects while abroad.
Mr Hague will speak out on human rights, remarking the U.K. will uphold its moral principles.
"There will be no downgrading of human rights under this government and no resiling from our commitments to aid and development," Mr Hague will say.
"Indeed I intend to improve and strengthen our human rights work. It is not in our character as a nation to have a foreign policy without a conscience, and neither is it in our interests."
New guidelines are going to be reissued to staff on how to report on cases of torture or cruelty that they may come across in the course of their work.
"We cannot achieve long-term security and prosperity unless we uphold our values," Mr Hague will add.
"Where human rights abuses go unchecked our security suffers. And our international influence will bleed away unless we maintain our international standing and cultural influence."
However, the shadow foreign secretary, David Miliband said that the coalitions actions do not reflect their words of intent.
"William Hague has cut programmes on human rights and democracy by £560,000 this financial year, while the government has watered down Labour's policy for a universal standard for arms sales."
The foreign secretary went on further to argue that by "strengthening" the Governments focus on human rights it would improve the security and standing of the U.K.
Human rights solicitors and aid experts will advise minister on how best to improve their stance on protecting human rights.
Labour said that the current coalition Government have actually cut funding for human rights programmes.
Labour further remarked that the Foreign Office had been set to downgrade a human rights report which is said to analyse the human rights records of countries' from around the world. The Government had been completing these reports since 1997, and intended to stop doing so but public pressure and criticism prevented this from happening.
Mr Hague also promised a judicial inquiry into claims that British intelligence officers were complicit in the torture of terrorist suspects while abroad.
Mr Hague will speak out on human rights, remarking the U.K. will uphold its moral principles.
"There will be no downgrading of human rights under this government and no resiling from our commitments to aid and development," Mr Hague will say.
"Indeed I intend to improve and strengthen our human rights work. It is not in our character as a nation to have a foreign policy without a conscience, and neither is it in our interests."
New guidelines are going to be reissued to staff on how to report on cases of torture or cruelty that they may come across in the course of their work.
"We cannot achieve long-term security and prosperity unless we uphold our values," Mr Hague will add.
"Where human rights abuses go unchecked our security suffers. And our international influence will bleed away unless we maintain our international standing and cultural influence."
However, the shadow foreign secretary, David Miliband said that the coalitions actions do not reflect their words of intent.
"William Hague has cut programmes on human rights and democracy by £560,000 this financial year, while the government has watered down Labour's policy for a universal standard for arms sales."
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