Norwegian recommendations in UPR on United Kingdom 24 May
We thank the UK delegation for the presentation of the national report and for the commitment to human rights.
Given the time constraint we will focus on two main issues:
First, in 2008, the UK accepted recommendation 8 regarding counter-terrorism and human rights. We welcome the commitment expressed in the UK national report to repeal control orders legislation and to replace control orders with a more focused system of terrorism prevention and investigation systems. We further welcome the reduced maximum period of detention without charges.
Second, regarding the rights of the child, Norway welcomes the Child Poverty Act of 2010 and the Strategy for tackling child poverty, covering the period to 2014, with a view to ending child poverty in the UK by 2020. We note that the Government will introduce new measures to capture the broader understanding of both causes and consequences of poverty.
We further note the focus on evidence-based parenting programmes as they promote alternatives to physical punishment to manage children’s behaviour.
Norway has four recommendations:
We recommend that the UK:
1. - set out a clear pathway to meet the goal of ending child poverty in UK by 2020 as stated in the Coalition’s programme for government.
2. - takes measures to ensure the freedom of children from physical punishment in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child
3. - continue to review all counter-terrorism legislation and ensure that it complies with the highest human rights standards, and
4. - commit to investigate individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities and, where sufficient evidence exists, to prosecute them in the ordinary criminal courts, and in conformity with international fair trial standards.
Norway’s advance questions for the United Kingdom
- Concerns have been expressed by human rights organizations and from other countries during the UPS session in 2008 on the use of diplomatic assurances to permit the deportation of terrorism suspects. How does the UK intend to ensure that human rights are respected by recipient countries?
- Can the UK government set out steps it will take at both UK and devolved government levels to ensure that the target for eradication child poverty by 2020 is met?
- What measures are the government of the United Kingdom taking to ensure the freedom of children from physical punishment in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child?