Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

SECTION I: Promoting British Values
As Foreign Secretary William Hague said on 15 September in his speech “Britain’s
Values in a Networked World”, “It is not in our character as a nation to have a foreign
policy without a conscience, and neither is it in our interests”. The values of fairness,
dignity, liberty and justice, as well as our support for democratic freedom, universal
human rights and the rule of law are “part of our national DNA and will be woven
deeply into the decision-making processes of our foreign policy at every stage”.
They form the essential framework for the pursuit of the Government’s foreign policy.
Our approach is based on realism. Each country is different and we work with the
local grain to achieve our goals. This does not mean that we will ever overlook
human rights abuses; indeed, we raise our human rights concerns wherever and
whenever they arise, including with our allies and those countries with which we are
seeking closer ties. But our approach is a practical one, working with others to
promote human rights in a pragmatic and effective way that strengthens the global
commitment to universal human rights, the rule of law, democracy and respect for
all. We also have a strategic interest in promoting these values, as they are integral
to long-term stability and prosperity, both for the UK and more widely.
Human rights and the rule of law are inextricably linked. The rule of law is more than
a set of legal rules that govern society. It encompasses representative government,
an independent judiciary, independent courts and proper systems of accountability.
These institutions, at both the national and international level, ensure that individuals
are treated equally before the law and prevent those in power from acting in an
unfettered or arbitrary way. To achieve this, the rule of law must also guarantee the
proper exercise of an individual’s human rights, as articulated in international human
rights law, and as set out in instruments such as the International Covenants on Civil
and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This international
human rights framework is the basis by which we judge human rights in other
countries. We are also committed to ensuring that our own standards match those
enshrined in international law.
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