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

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2007-2008, 2019)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

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 deteriorating situation of human rights in Eastern Ghouta, in the Syrian Arab Republic; Child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian settings; Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights; Human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic; Promoting awareness, understanding and the application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through sport and the Olympic ideal; Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Situation of human rights in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka; Situation of human rights in South Sudan; Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery; Strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage; The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights; The role of freedom of opinion and expression in women’s empowerment; Consequences of child, early and forced marriage; Realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl; Human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, the United Kingdom (UK) has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and most country-specific resolutions under item 2. Exceptions include the item 2 texts on: Burundi (voted against in 2017), OPT (abstained in 2019) and Venezuela (abstained in 2019). For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the OPT), the UK tends to either vote in favour or abstain. However, it usually votes against item 7 resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, the follow-up to the report of the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict, and the texts concerning violations of international law in the OPT, including East Jerusalem. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), the UK has voted in favour of all resolutions except for a text that focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (2009, the UK abstained). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, the United Kingdom has mainly either voted in favour or joined consensus. Resolutions that it usually (or always) votes against include: right to peace; effects of terrorism on human rights; drones and mercenaries. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, the United Kingdom has joined consensus or voted against most texts. Exceptions include votes in favour of: water and sanitation (2016), right to development (2010, 2011) and right to food (2017, 2018).

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

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 >
WG on mercenaries, 2015

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

CEDAW
3 Months

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

Minister

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

2^nd cycle: 192 / 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' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 13

The United Kingdom presented voluntary pledges in support of its candidature for membership for the period 2017-2019 in December 2015.

Key pledges include: Encourage fast international responses to severe human rights violations, including in support of conflict prevention; support the successful mainstreaming of human rights across the UN system; help States in transition to encourage domestic reform and provide relevant international support; encourage the full use of the Council’s mechanisms; support the independence and work of OHCHR; promote cooperation across regional groups; encourage dialogue and engagement with parliaments and civil society; promote the implementation of international commitments and obligations; maintain a standing invitation for Special Procedures and facilitate visits; remain committed to the UPR; translate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into action that leaves no one behind; defend freedom of religion or belief, support persecuted minorities, and counter violent extremism (CVE); work to end violence against women and girls, and promote women’s full participation in political and economic life; and promote open societies and challenge threats to civil society.

An analysis of steps taken by the UK in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that it has remarkably high-levels of cooperation with Special Procedures, having accepted almost all visit requests (two visits not yet completed are on hold due to COVID-19 related restrictions) and responded to 93% of communications. Regarding UPR, the UK’s own report was presented by a high-level delegation, and it submitted a detailed mid-term report on implementation. The UK showed to be one of the most active participants during the UPR, presenting recommendations to all 192 States during the first and second cycles. The UK continues to support OHCHR by, inter alia, making yearly voluntary financial contributions.

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: 192 / 192

2nd cycle: 192 / 192

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

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 13

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

2^nd cycle: 192 / 192