HL Deb 30 November 2000 vol 619 c176WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What specific criteria they use to measure human rights improvements in a country. [HL4827]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Our policy is to promote British interests and pursue British values by supporting democracy and human rights, wherever we can, however we can. That means responding to human rights challenges in the way most likely to help the people whose freedoms are being restricted. In assessing the human rights situation in a country, we weigh information available from a wide range of sources, such as governments, NGOs and international bodies, against factors such as relevant international standards and the policies of the government in the country concerned.