Human rights
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on human rights. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01.03.2013 | North Korea: domestic developments during Kim Jong-Un's first year in power |
| This note briefly surveys domestic developments in North Korea since the death of Kim Jong-Il in December 2011 and the succession of his son, Kim Jong-Un. The nuclear issue is referred to only in passing. Insofar as we can know, Kim Jong-Un appears to have consolidated power smoothly and quickly. There are signs that the new leadership wants to shift from a 'Military First' to a 'People First' policy, which will involve economic reform measures. However, there are no real signs yet of an improvement on human rights. | |
| 01.03.2013 | In brief: The Arms Trade Treaty - trying again |
| This note surveys the state of the UN-based negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty, which were due to be completed at a conference in New York in July 2012, but which were unable to reach agreement on a final text. However, the UN General Assembly has just agreed to convene a further UN Conference in March 2013. One way or another, the odds favour a treaty being agreed next year. | |
| 27.02.2013 | China: new political directions under a new leadership? |
| A new Chinese leadership is about to take power at the National People's Congress, which begins on 5 March. Xi Jinping will take on the role of President, while Li Keqiang will become Premier. The succession of the 'fifth generation' of Communist leaders appeared to have been destabilised during 2012 following the fall of Bo Xilai, but in the end appears to have gone relatively smoothly. Commentators are now focused on whether and, if so, how Xi and Li will change China's political course. This note surveys some of the views expressed on this issue. | |
| 26.02.2013 | European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] 2012-13: Committee Stage Report |
| The European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] 2012-13 seeks to approve three EU draft decisions before the UK Government can approve their adoption in the EU Council. | |
| 21.02.2013 | Recognising the killings of Iraqi Kurds as genocide |
| The killings of thousands of Iraqi Kurds under Saddam Hussein's rule has been recognised by some as genocide, which has a specific definition under international law. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 26.02.2013 | Justice and Security Bill [HL] Committee Stage Report |
| This paper has been produced following the Committee Stage of the Justice and Security Bill in the House of Commons, which took place between 29 January and 7 February 2013. The Bill, which has proved contentious, was originally introduced in the House of Lords on 28 May 2012. It is aimed at modernising and strengthening the oversight of the intelligence and security services and would allow the civil courts to use 'closed material procedures' to hear sensitive evidence in cases that raised national security concerns. It would also preclude the courts from ordering the disclosure of sensitive information in certain circumstances. The Bill was revised significantly in the Lords and was introduced in the House of Commons on 28 November 2012. Second Reading took place on 18 December 2012. A number of noteworthy and controversial amendments were made to the Bill in Committee. | |
| 31.01.2013 | European Union (Approvals) Bill |
| The European Union (Approvals) Bill (HC Bill 121) aims to approve two draft EU Council decisions and one draft decision of the European Council (the EU Heads of State and Government). | |
| 06.12.2012 | Pakistan in 2013 |
| 2013 will be another important year for Pakistan. Federal and provincial elections will be held during the first half of the year. If, as seems increasingly likely, the Pakistan People's Party-led Government sees out its full term in office and hands over to a civilian successor, it will be the first time in Pakistan's history that this has happened. But the political and economic situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable. | |
| 01.06.2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill |
| This briefing on the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill has been prepared for the second reading debate on the Bill in the House of Commons. This is due to take place on 7 June 2011 | |
| 22.12.2009 | Crime and Security Bill. Bill 3 2009-10. |
| The Bill would amend the law governing the taking, retention and destruction of fingerprints and DNA data from persons arrested for, charged with or convicted of criminal offences. It would reduce the requirements on the police to record information following a stop and search. It would introduce new 'go' orders for suspected perpetrators of domestic violence, which could mean excluding them from their homes in order to protect the victim. The Bill would also, in effect, extend new injunctions for gang-related violence to 14-18 year olds, and require courts to issue a Parenting Order where a child under 16 had breached an Anti-social Behaviour Order. It would require wheel clamping companies to be licensed, and create a new offence of possessing an authorised mobile phone in a prison. It also creates a new offence of preventing a person under 18 from gaining unauthorised access to air weapons. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01.10.2011 | Legislative scrutiny: Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - government response to the... |
| Government response. Home Office report [Commons] | |
| 14.09.2011 | FCO's human rights work 2010-11. |
| Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office report [Commons] | |
| 06.09.2011 | Terrorism Act 2000 (Remedial) Order 2011: stop and search without reasonable suspicion (second report).... |
| Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords] | |
| 11.06.2011 | Legislative scrutiny: Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill; Armed Forces Bill. |
| Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords] | |
| 07.06.2011 | Legislative scrutiny: Education Bill and other bills. |
| Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 08.02.2012 | DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIBET |
| That this House strongly condemns the Chinese security forces' unwarranted use of force including opening fire on unarmed demonstrators to quash peaceful protests in Tibet; is greatly ... | |
| 25.01.2012 | INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY |
| That this House supports International Women's Day on 8 March 2012; celebrates the political, social and economic advancement of women while recognising the urgent need for further ... | |
| 11.01.2012 | HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN (No. 2) |
| That this House is concerned by the practice of execution by stoning in Iran; notes that stoning is a particularly repugnant and cruel form of execution; is concerned that stoning is ... | |
| 20.12.2011 | HUMAN RIGHTS IN KAZAKHSTAN |
| That this House is deeply concerned at reports of the killing of oil workers in Kazakhstan who have been protesting about their living conditions and the poverty of their region; condemns ... | |
| 20.12.2011 | GUANTÁNAMO BAY |
| That this House notes that on 11 January 2012 it will be a decade since the first detainees were incarcerated at Guantnamo Bay naval base; believes that Guantnamo detainees should either ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19.11.2012 | Debate on 22 November: Successor Framework to the Millennium Development Goals |
| This Library Note provides background reading on the successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals. | |
| 14.06.2012 | Justice and Security Bill [HL] (HL Bill 27 of 2012-13) |
| This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Justice and Security Bill on 19 June 2012. | |
| 19.03.2012 | Question for Short Debate on 26 March: Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army |
| This Library Note provides background information on steps to bring to trial Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. | |
| 03.02.2012 | Question for Short Debate on 8 February: Blockade of Gaza |
| This Library Note provides an overview of the blockade of Gaza by the Government of Israel, including its history, attempts to bypass the blockade and recent developments. It then examines the impact of the blockade on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and finally the response of the British Government. | |
| 28.11.2011 | Debate on 1 December: International Development Policy and the Situation of Dalits |
| This Library Note provides an overview of the situation of Dalits in South Asia and looks at the issue of caste-based discrimination in India. It also examines the Government's international development policy for India, currently the largest recipient of UK development aid. | |
| 13.05.2011 | Debate on 19 May: European Convention on Human Rights |
| This Library Note provides background reading for the debate on the European Convention on Human Rights. |
