Human Rights

(asked on 27th February 2025) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance prevents UK involvement in human rights abuses.


Answered by
Catherine West Portrait
Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 7th March 2025

The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessment is an essential tool to ensure that the UK's overseas security and justice assistance meets our human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) obligations, increases respect for the rule of law, and supports UK values. It is important that the skills and expertise we impart internationally are not used to cause harm. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is currently reviewing the Government's guidance for OSJA assessments so that it remains fit for purpose and captures emerging risks that could contribute to violations of human rights and IHL.

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