British Foreign Secretary launches Human Rights Report 17Mar2010 David Miliband delivered a speech at Lancaster House this afternoon to introduce the Annual Report on Human Rights. Speaking to an audience of NGOs and human rights stakeholders,the Foreign Secretary launched the 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights this afternoon. Baroness Kinnock,Minister for Human Rights,also participated in the event. Around 150 NGOs and human rights stakeholders attended the launch. The Foreign Secretary highlighted some of the human rights work completed by the Foreign Office over the last year,and addressed the challenges faced in upholding human rights.He said: "First,we must support the struggle for civil rights.When courageous protestors make their voices heard on the streets of Iran for example,we making clear their desire for democracy,human rights and fundamental freedoms;and when their Government responds with brutality,then we're right to speak up. Second,we should provide practical help that meets individual countries' specific needs,working with civil society rather than lecturing Government.That means funding projects to give a greater voice to civil society in places such as Vietnam and Pakistan.Given Glenys's new role that was announced by the Prime Minister,it's especially important that we help empower women in places like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.And at the Afghan Conference a representative of women's organisations in Afghan civil society spoke from this very platform to seventy Foreign Ministers from around the world at that conference.Condemning the oppression of journalists in Russia,in places like Russia is important;of human rights campaigners in Belarus;of opposition politicians in Syria;of trade unionists in Colombia;and gay rights activists in,in Uganda,Burundi and Malawi.There was a brilliant article by the way in the Washington Post last week by Archbishop Desmond Tutu about gay rights issues in Africa that's well worth getting off the internet.These are small steps,but each one of them matters. Thirdly,we need to recognise that new technologies transform the ability of individuals to organise in the face of authoritarianism.We should support their spread.But how much we're in love with new media,let's not forget the power of some older media,traditional media,media,such as the BBC World Service radio as well as TV and its Arabic and Farsi offshoots,as they try to give a voice to communities otherwise unable to freely express themselves
British Foreign Secretary launches Human Rights Report 17 Mar 2010 David Miliband delivered a speech at Lancaster House this afternoon to introduce the Annual Report on Human Rights. Speaking to an audience of NGOs and human rights stakeholders, the Foreign Secretary launched the 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights this afternoon. Baroness Kinnock, Minister for Human Rights, also participated in the event. Around 150 NGOs and human rights stakeholders attended the launch. The Foreign Secretary highlighted some of the human rights work completed by the Foreign Office over the last year, and addressed the challenges faced in upholding human rights. He said: "First, we must support the struggle for civil rights. When courageous protestors make their voices heard on the streets of Iran for example, we, making clear their desire for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms; and when their Government responds with brutality, then we’re right to speak up. Second, we should provide practical help that meets individual countries’ specific needs, working with civil society rather than lecturing Government. That means funding projects to give a greater voice to civil society in places such as Vietnam and Pakistan. Given Glenys’s new role that was announced by the Prime Minister, it’s especially important that we help empower women in places like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. And at the Afghan Conference a representative of women’s organisations in Afghan civil society spoke from this very platform to seventy Foreign Ministers from around the world at that conference. Condemning the oppression of journalists in Russia, in places like Russia is important; of human rights campaigners in Belarus; of opposition politicians in Syria; of trade unionists in Colombia; and gay rights activists in, in Uganda, Burundi and Malawi. There was a brilliant article by the way in the Washington Post last week by Archbishop Desmond Tutu about gay rights issues in Africa that’s well worth getting off the internet. These are small steps, but each one of them matters. Thirdly, we need to recognise that new technologies transform the ability of individuals to organise in the face of authoritarianism. We should support their spread. But how much we’re in love with new media, let’s not forget the power of some older media, traditional media, media, such as the BBC World Service radio as well as TV and its Arabic and Farsi offshoots, as they try to give a voice to communities otherwise unable to freely express themselves
Concluding his speech,the Foreign Secretary said: "It's plain from the challenges that I've set out that the coming year will be no easier than the last.I don't think any of you will be surprised by that.But we're in this for the long haul.Twelve years ago when the FCO published the first annual Human Rights Report,we had no International Criminal Court,no binding human rights criteria governing our approach to arms sales,thirty countries that no longer retained the death penalty,and a notion that Governments had an international responsibility to protect their own populations from the worst abuses had not yet taken root at all. So although we have a long way to go we should recognise that patience and above all determination and effort can lead to progress.That's the lesson that I take from the Human Rights Report 2009." The Annual Report on Human Rights is a tool to inform parliament,NGOs and the general public and to hold the Foreign Office to account for our policy and activities to promote human rights around the world.It focuses on UK views and actions,and looks at the integration of human rights elements into some of our primary policy objectives.It also addresses our activity in 22 countries of particular concern.Among theses are some of the most high profile human rights issues of 2009-including Burma and Iran
Concluding his speech, the Foreign Secretary said: "It’s plain from the challenges that I’ve set out that the coming year will be no easier than the last. I don’t think any of you will be surprised by that. But we’re in this for the long haul. Twelve years ago when the FCO published the first annual Human Rights Report, we had no International Criminal Court, no binding human rights criteria governing our approach to arms sales, thirty countries that no longer retained the death penalty, and a notion that Governments had an international responsibility to protect their own populations from the worst abuses had not yet taken root at all. So although we have a long way to go we should recognise that patience and above all determination and effort can lead to progress. That’s the lesson that I take from the Human Rights Report 2009." The Annual Report on Human Rights is a tool to inform parliament, NGOs and the general public and to hold the Foreign Office to account for our policy and activities to promote human rights around the world. It focuses on UK views and actions, and looks at the integration of human rights elements into some of our primary policy objectives. It also addresses our activity in 22 countries of particular concern. Among theses are some of the most high profile human rights issues of 2009 – including Burma and Iran