UN Human Rights Council 63: UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on arbitrary detention
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on arbitrary detention. Delivered at the 63rd Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr Vice President.
The United Kingdom thanks the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for its timely report on transnational repression. The report draws attention to concerns about states seeking to target individuals beyond their borders through a range of coercive measures, with significant implications for human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms.
We share the Working Group’s concerns about the use of detention and other coercive measures in response to peaceful activities conducted abroad, and we call on all States to uphold their obligations under international human rights law.
Mr President,
We also wish to recall last year’s finding by the Working Group of Arbitrary Detention in the case of Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai has now been in prison for more than 2,000 days. In February, he was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. This is tantamount to a life sentence for this 78-year-old British national. We reiterate our call for his release, and for the release of all those imprisoned under the National Security Law.
Finally, we thank the Working Group for its recent correspondence with the UK and we will respond in due course.
Thank you.