UN Human Rights Council 44: Interactive Dialogue on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions

Thank you Madame President.

The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions for her important work.

Special Rapporteur, we note your most recent report addressing the issue of targeted killings through armed drones. You have made a useful contribution to an important debate. We would note that the United Kingdom has extensive processes to ensure that its use of drone technologies will always comply with the applicable law.

The UK Government strongly condemns any instances of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. They are a clear violation of human rights, the impact of which deeply affects the families and communities of victims, as well as undermining the rule of law. We cannot allow these practices to continue unchecked.

The UK works with leading local and regional civil society to tackle these issues and engages bilaterally to promote awareness through our diplomatic network, raising individual cases where appropriate. We also work through the multilateral system to address these crimes, highlighting concerns and working with others to end these abhorrent practices. To this end, the UK introduced a Global Human Rights Sanctions regime on Monday, focussed on imposing sanctions pertaining to violations or abuses of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Special Rapporteur, what more can states to do bring justice to victims’ families and to protect their citizens’ human rights?