Country detail - yourHRC.org

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2007-2008, 2019)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2025) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Consultative Group (2011-2012)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

The United Kingdom has been in the core group of the following resolutions: the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights; accelerating efforts to achieve women’s economic empowerment; advancing Human Rights in South Sudan; situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; The impact of anti-personnel mines on the full enjoyment of all human rights; situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic; promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka; responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan; assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights; informing the Human Rights Council on the human rights adviser programme; role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights; realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl; child, early and forced marriage; Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar; fact finding mission to improve human rights, accountability and reconciliation for South Sudan; the role of freedom of opinion and expression in women’s empowerment; promoting awareness, understanding and the application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through sport and the Olympic ideal; and situation of human rights in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, the United Kingdom has (in the absence of consensus) consistently voted in favour of texts tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention). On country-specific item 2 resolutions, the United Kingdom has tended to vote in favour; exceptions include resolutions concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory (abstained thrice and voted against once), a resolution on Burundi (voted against), and a resolution on Venezuela (abstained). The United Kingdom has voted in favour, voted against, or abstained almost equally on all item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory) in the absence of consensus. Since 2018, where a vote has been called, the United Kingdom has voted against all item 7 resolutions. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), the United Kingdom has joined consensus or voted in favour of all texts, except for one occasion when it abstained (on a 2009 resolution on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, the United Kingdom has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has voted in favour of resolutions on, inter alia: the question of the death penalty; civil society; sexual orientation; drug control; arbitrary detention; peaceful protests; firearms; democracy and the rule of law; torture; and freedom of religion or belief. Resolutions that it usually (or always) votes against include those on: defamation of religions; the right to peace; drones; arms transfers; mercenaries; and some texts on racism and the Durban Review Conference. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social, and cultural rights, the United Kingdom has, in the absence of consensus, tended to vote against or (less frequently) abstain on texts. It has voted against resolutions on, inter alia: foreign debt; unilateral coercive measures; international solidarity; protection of the family; and the right to peace. It has voted in favour of resolutions on, inter alia: HIV and AIDS; the right to food; and the right to safe drinking water and sanitation.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

324

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

151

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

111

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on Iran (Visit of the SR on Iran to UK (country mandate visiting a different country)), 2018

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CERD
3 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Received Sub-Committee visit

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2008, 2012, 2017)

Mid-term report

1st, 2nd & 3rd cycles

Level of delegation

Ministry

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 127 / 192

2^nd cycle: 158 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2025)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

The United Kingdom tabled its commitments and voluntary pledges in support of its candidacy for membership for the period 2026-2028 on 13 June 2025. In the document, the UK pledges to:

Support civil society and human rights organisations and promote freedom of expression, including free media, and ensure the protection of journalists and media workers.
Strengthen scrutiny and accountability for international human rights crises, and promote the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 with a focus on access to justice, particularly for those belonging to marginalised groups.
Tackle gender-based violence and harmful practices, and promote women’s economic empowerment.
Tackle modern slavery and human rights abuses in global supply chains.
Ensure that human rights and governance principles are embedded in the use of new technologies.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 127 / 192

2nd cycle: 158 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 127 / 192

2^nd cycle: 158 / 192