Conservative Party Human Rights Commission Chairman Stephen Crabb writes to Mark Malloch Brown
Stephen Crabb MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, has written to Mark Malloch Brown, Gordon Brown’s new Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to highlight international human rights issues.
In the letter, Stephen Crabb highlighted the fact that Lord Malloch Brown has a wide ranging portfolio, and expressed concern that human rights might not be a priority. He wrote:
“You have a large number of responsibilities in your new Ministerial position, including human rights, global issues, the UN, the Commonwealth, Africa and Asia. I would like to begin by asking what assurance you can give that human rights will be a priority for you amidst a wide range of significant responsibilities?”
The Conservative Party Human Rights Commission has recommended that a future Conservative Government should appoint a Minister of State for International Human Rights. In its Annual Report, published in December 2006, the Commission noted that the Minister for human rights currently has other responsibilities as well, and that this leads to “potential conflicts of interest” and an inability to “give undivided attention to human rights issues”.
Mr Crabb also urged the new Minister, who is a former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, to explain what plans he has for improving the UN’s mechanisms to address human rights:
“Given your responsibility for the UN – and the wealth of experience you have of that institution – may I ask what plans you have to promote and defend human rights within the UN mechanisms, and whether you can offer new proposals for reforming and strengthening the UN’s ability to promote and defend human rights?”
Mr Crabb highlighted human rights abuses in North Korea, Burma, Sudan, Tibet, Iran, Cuba, Belarus, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, and the caste-discrimination against the Dalits in India. In the letter, he told Lord Malloch Brown:
“You take office at a time of great challenge for our country and the world. We face serious threats to our security at home, a rise in extremism and terrorism here and around the world, and significant assaults on the values of freedom, democracy and human rights in many countries.
The values that unite us on all sides of the political divide in the United Kingdom – a profound belief in freedom, the rule of law and universal human rights – are far greater than the political viewpoints that may divide us. As Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, I will wish to support you in endeavours to promote these values in foreign policy, and will ask questions and offer proposals for action in that spirit.”
Stephen Crabb MP
04/07/2007
