Transparency data

Human Rights Programme summary 2022 to 2023

Published 30 March 2023

Overview

Human rights violations, abuses, and the absence of the rule of law lead to unstable and less prosperous societies. They create a world where the safety of all individuals, including British citizens, is at greater risk.

The struggle to protect, promote, and strengthen human rights is real and constant. The inadequate protection of human rights creates a cycle of insecurity, instability, and poverty. Human rights are more than just principles enshrined in international law. They are the bedrock of successful and progressive societies. Countries where human rights are respected, including those with a strong record on gender equality, tend to be more prosperous, democratic, and stable. Corruption is less likely to take root, and extremism is less likely to find fertile ground. That is why safeguarding, promoting, and defending human rights is an integral part of our work.

The FCDO works to tackle the root causes of human rights violations and abuses, strengthen institutions and governance, promote and protect human rights, and support democracy and the rule of law. Our programme funding is a really important vehicle for the FCDO’s human rights work.

This programme supports the FCDO’s strategic objective to project our global influence and promote a network of liberty. It also helps to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Objectives on supporting human rights

The UK promotes and defends the full range of universal human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. The UK strongly encourages all States to abide by and fulfil their obligations under international law. FCDO human rights objectives currently place a particular emphasis on:

• working closely with domestic and international partners to drive the international effort to combat modern slavery and ensure that this effort is recognised as a global moral imperative
• standing up for the freedom of people of any or no religion to practise their beliefs in peace and safety, including for the freedom of religion or belief conference that took place in London in July 2022
• supporting the right of human rights defenders to carry out their work, and be able to voice their opinions freely and safely
• promoting the development and strengthening of democracy
• opposing the death penalty and the use of torture as a matter of principle, in all circumstances
• continuing the UK’s commitment to defend and support media freedom internationally, building on commitments made at the 2019 global conference
• supporting the International Criminal Court and other tribunals involved in global efforts to end impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern
• working with international partners, business and civil society, to support and promote responsible practice in the global extractives sector and by the domestic and international private security sector, to reduce and prevent conflict and protect human rights
• strengthening the core functions of human rights institutions in Europe, defending them from dilution or malign activity

Official Development Assistance (ODA), non-ODA and supporting human rights

This programme strand is a blend of ODA and non-ODA. ODA scoring within this programme is limited to ODA-eligible countries. The majority of the 31 Human Rights Priority Countries identified in the FCDO’s Annual Human Rights Report are eligible to receive ODA funding.

This programme complements the FCDO’s wider work in support of open societies and human rights, including projects under the cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Supporting Human Rights Programme allocation for financial year 2022 to 2023

The ODA allocation for financial year 2022 to 2023 for the human rights programme is £6,032,000. This was agreed in November 2022 as a response to in-year ODA budget pressures. Our non-ODA allocation is £1,953,000.

Supporting Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rules-Based International System Programme during financial year 2021 to 2022

In 2021 to 2022, the programme supported projects across the range of themes. The FCDO publishes an Annual Human Rights report, including delivery through policy programmes.

A selection of key achievements of projects funded by Directorate in financial year 2021 to 2022, include:

• a research project was initiated in November 2021 to assess the impact and feasibility of establishing a Global Commission aimed at driving momentum on eradicating modern slavery by 2030 – in line Sustainable Develop Goal 8.7’s target
• creation of a cross-stakeholder network of CSOs, media private sector clients and security provider associations aiming to strengthen the implementation of the private security regulatory framework in Kenya
• supporting the Association for the Prevention of Torture’s work in Brazil which In March 2022 led to the Brazilian Supreme Court unanimously declaring Presidential Decree 9.831 from June 2019 unconstitutional. This decree had ordered the immediate dismissal of the 11 experts forming the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on the prevention of torture, severely limiting its powers