The countries included in this section
are amongst those where we have the most serious wide-ranging human rights
concerns. When deciding on which
countries to include, we also considered whether the country had been the
target of a high level of UK engagement on human rights in 2010, and whether it
would be likely to effect positive change in the wider region if their human
rights record improved.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive
survey of human rights violations, either globally or in the featured
countries, of the type published by some international NGOs. Neither is it a league table. We continue to have concerns about countries
not included in this section. The
reports in this section are instead designed to provide an insight into some of
the key concerns and actions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Other UK government departments, notably the
Department for International Development (DFID), also undertake substantial
work abroad in the field of human rights that is not covered here.
Our human rights reporting on the FCO
website has been expanded. This is
frequently updated and provides the most current information about the latest
developments. More information about the
human rights situation and the work of our embassies and high commissions in
these countries of concern is available online.
We will continue to raise our human
rights concerns wherever and whenever they arise, including with those
countries with which we are seeking closer ties. All of our embassies and high commissions
monitor and raise human rights issues in their host countries. Where possible, we also respond to individual
cases if persecution or discrimination has occurred. We also work bilaterally and with other EU member
states to encourage changes in practices and laws to strengthen the local human
rights situation.
