Submission to the Foreign Affairs Committee for its Annual Inquiry into the FCO’s Human Rights Work in 2012

This submission is in response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s invitation for submissions of evidence in respect of its inquiry announced on 17 April 2013 into “Human Rights and Democracy: The 2012 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Report”. REDRESS’s submission addresses two issues in particular: the FCO’s efforts to strengthen the ability of states to counter terrorism whilst working to protect human rights in those states; the declaration by G8 Foreign Ministers on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict, and the impact of the FCO’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. Other aspects covered include human rights for British nationals tortured abroad; the UK as a safe haven for suspected perpetrators of human rights abuses; torture prevention and reparation; and countries of concern.