UN Human Rights Council 49: UK statement for the interactive dialogue on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism
The UK delivered this statement acknowledging the Special Rapporteur’s most recent report and unreservedly condemn practices of torture and deprivation of fundamental rights.
The Human Rights Council takes place in Geneva.
Thank you Madam Chair,
I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her work, including her most recent report on Global Practices in Relation to Secret Detention in the Context of Countering Terrorism.
The UK strongly believes that to be truly effective and sustainable, our Counter Terrorism and Counter Violent Extremism efforts must respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Otherwise, we risk exacerbating the conditions conducive to terrorism, and undermining the very values that the UN was established to promote.
We acknowledge the Special Rapporteur’s most recent report and unreservedly condemn practices of torture and deprivation of fundamental rights.
We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations on Xinjiang. We also strongly support the Special Rapporteur’s call for China to grant urgent and fully unfettered access to the region for UN experts. The severity of the systematic violations reported demands immediate access and investigation.
With this in mind, we would like to ask the Special Rapporteur what more could be done by States to increase this cooperation and support so that those responsible for the most serious crimes can be brought to justice?
Thank you.