• Afghanistan
• Arms control
• Climate change
• The Commonwealth
• Conference on Somalia
• Conflict minerals
• Council of Europe
• Counter proliferation
• Counter terrorism
• Conference on Cyberspace
• European Union
• Growth and prosperity
• Human rights
• Human rights around the world
• Democracy
• Equality & non-discrimination
• Justice & security
• The international human rights framework
• Business & human rights
• Water & sanitation
• London 2012 Olympics
• Middle East and North Africa
• NATO
• Peacekeeping
• Piracy
• Polar Regions
• United Nations
• US - UK relations
• Women, peace & security

Working with the international framework

The UK wants to see an effective United Nations contribution to the worldwide promotion and protection of human rights.

We have actively engaged in the elaboration of an international human rights framework to continue to promote the values of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and safeguard international legal human rights standards.

UN Human Rights Mechanisms

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) is the UN's primary body for discussion and action on human rights issues. The UK was an active member from its inception in 2006 until June 2011. We will bid for re-election in 2013 and in the meantime will remain an active supporter of the Council. We are also committed to seeing complementary action on human rights in other parts of the UN, including through the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, where all UN members can vote.

We are strong supporters of the work and independence of:

• The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
  
• The Treaty Monitoring Bodies
  
• The HRC's special procedures
  

These mechanisms constitute an impressive reserve of expertise on which states can draw to help meet their human rights obligations, as well as providing independent information on, and drawing international attention to, systematic human rights violations wherever they occur.

The UK has also engaged actively with what has arguably been the key innovation of the HRC is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - a unique process which involves a peer review of the human rights record of every UN Member State once every four years. 

The UK also works within the framework of the European Union on international human rights issues. To see examples of our work around the world, view our interactive map.

Business & human rights

The UK is committed to promoting responsible corporate behaviour amongst UK companies operating overseas

Water & sanitation

The UK is committed to providing people in developing countries with clean water & sanitation as part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals

Useful links

• European Union
• Council of Europe
• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• The Commonwealth
• ASEAN
• UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
• Third Committee of the UN General Assembly
• The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
• The Treaty Monitoring Bodies
• Universal Periodic Review (UPR)