Annual report on global human rights released by UK
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): The British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in releasing the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual report on human rights has said the power of government can be a force for good in the world and as well as for progress in human rights.

In a wide ranging address on Tuesday night, Miliband, also said the United Kingdom would continue to push for greater human rights in countries where they appear to be under threat.

Every year the FCO publishes a report on its work to promote human rights overseas.

Spread over some 200-pages,the report covers policy goals, key human rights themes, and major countries of concern- from Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma to Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

It was also an opportunity for the Foreign Secretary to summarise his concerns and to speak on the continuing need for political dialogue across the globe.

“As human rights moves from the margins to the mainstream, it can no longer be treated as a discrete area of foreign policy; more and more of the challenges of foreign policy have human rights as a vital dimension,” he said.

Concern for human rights, said the Foreign Secretary, was one of the UK’s greatest strengths.

“Democratic and inclusive political systems around the world are a bulwark against the terrorist mantra of incompatible civilisations. “That is why we are right to support the spread of democracy in Afghanistan, in Bangladesh, in Iraq, and defend fragile democracies in Lebanon, Pakistan and Sierra Leone.”

Miliband said the UK would continue to work across both regional, national and international frontiers to protect human rights.●