1.  We concur with our witnesses in praising the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the substantial contribution made by the Human Rights Annual Report 2004 to the transparency and visibility of the Government's work in this important area. (Paragraph 4)

2.  We conclude that 2005 presents a unique opportunity for the UK to shape international priorities, and to promote human rights within the international system. We recommend that the Government set out, in its response to this Report, the specific human rights goals it will seek to achieve during its presidencies of the G8 and EU. (Paragraph 10)

3.  We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government provide a description of which individual projects have migrated from the old Human Rights Project Fund to today's Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance programme or to other programmes within the Global Opportunities Fund. This explanation should include a definition of "human rights project" and an elaboration of what proportion of the new programmes is allocated to human rights work and the extent of the geographical coverage of these projects, as compared to the activity under the old fund. (Paragraph 19)

4.  We conclude that the UN is going through a necessary process of scrutiny and reform, but affirm that the work of this vitally important institution should be fully recognised. We recommend that the Government continue to support the very important work carried out by the United Nations in the field of human rights. (Paragraph 23)

5.  We conclude that the recommendations of the High Level Panel are to be welcomed, and that they provide a basis for further debate on strengthening the international system for dealing with abuses of human rights. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out its policy position on the implementation of the Panel's recommendations. (Paragraph 29)

6.  We commend the Government's ongoing and uphill efforts to improve the work and credibility of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out specific objectives on which it will seek to make progress in 2005. (Paragraph 36)

7.  We recommend that the Government continue to give its backing to the International Criminal Court, and that it support the referral of the crimes in Darfur to the ICC, in line with the recommendation of the International Commission of Inquiry. (Paragraph 42)

8.  We recommend that the Government continue to put pressure on its European partners to come to a speedy resolution of the respective remits of the putative EU Human Rights Agency and Personal Representative on Human Rights in the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and to ensure that the new External Action Service takes full account of the human rights dimension of its work. We further recommend that the Government press for the Personal Representative to conduct, as one of his first tasks, a review of the EU's human rights work, with a view to rationalising and improving the implementation of its policies in this area. We recommend that, during the UK Presidency of the EU, the Government make one of its priorities improvement of the quality of the EU's work on human rights, without there being any diminution of the accountability of the British Government to Parliament in this area. (Paragraph 47)

9.  We conclude that, despite Turkey's substantial and welcome progress towards adopting European norms of respect for human rights and freedoms, significant areas of concern remain. We recommend that the Government continue to press for satisfactory resolution of these problems by Turkey and, under the UK Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2005, ensure that human rights is a key part of accession talks when these begin in October 2005. (Paragraph 54)

10.  We conclude that the response by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the appalling consequences of the tsunami was generally comprehensive, well co-ordinated and indispensable to those British nationals and their families affected by the disaster, both in the UK and the affected areas. We commend the strenuous efforts of FCO staff who worked selflessly in the aftermath of the event to help the victims and their families. We also commend the departmental crisis management structures which were in place before the disaster happened, and which were used so effectively in the event. (Paragraph 61)

11.  We conclude that the generally good response of the FCO provides little consolation to those people who did experience problems, in extremely difficult circumstances of great personal stress. We recommend that the FCO continue to improve its processes, in the light of further assessment of its response to the tsunami crisis, and that the Government inform Parliament of any developments. (Paragraph 62)

12.  We conclude that any attempt by the Indonesian government to use the cover of the tsunami to perpetrate human rights abuses in the Aceh region would be iniquitous. We recommend that the Government make the strongest representations to the Indonesian government to ensure that this is not taking place. We further recommend that the Government do all it can to help both sides reach a peaceful settlement of that conflict. We recommend that the Government put further pressure on the Indonesian government to improve its protection of human rights in West Papua. (Paragraph 66)

13.  We conclude that, now that the British nationals have been released from detention at Guantánamo Bay, the Government need no longer keep its diplomacy quiet in the interests of increasing leverage over individual cases. We recommend that the Government make strong public representations to the US administration about the lack of due process and oppressive conditions in Guantánamo Bay and other detention facilities controlled by the US in foreign countries. We further recommend that, during the UK Presidency of the European Union, the Government raise the situation at these facilities at the UN Commission for Human Rights. (Paragraph 79)

14.  We conclude that United States personnel appear to have committed grave violations of human rights of persons held in detention in various facilities in Iraq, Guantánamo Bay and Afghanistan. We recommend that the Government make it clear to the United States administration, both in public and in private, that such treatment of detainees is unacceptable. (Paragraph 87)

15.  We conclude that some British personnel have committed grave violations of human rights of persons held in detention facilities in Iraq, which are unacceptable. We recommend that all further allegations of mistreatment of detainees by British troops be investigated thoroughly and transparently. We further recommend that the Government review its training of and guidance to officers, NCOs and other ranks on the treatment of detainees to ensure that there is no ambiguity on what is permissible. (Paragraph 93)

16.  We conclude that the arguments for evaluating information which purports to give details of, for example, an impending terrorist attack, whatever its provenance, are compelling. We further conclude, however, that to operate a general policy of use of information extracted under torture would be to condone and even to encourage torture by repressive states. (Paragraph 104)

17.  We find it surprising and unsettling that the Government has twice failed to answer our specific question on whether or not the UK receives or acts upon information extracted under torture by a third country. We recommend that the Government, in its response to this Report, give a clear answer to the question, without repeating information already received twice by this Committee. (Paragraph 105)

18.  We recommend that the Government set out, in its response to this Report, a full and clear explanation of how its policy on the use of evidence gained under torture is consistent with the United Kingdom's international commitments as set out in the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which states, at Article 15, that "Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made". (Paragraph 106)

19.  We conclude that the Government should ensure that it is understood by other governments that the mistreatment of British nationals is unacceptable and will be met with appropriate actions. (Paragraph 112)

20.  We note with approval the Government's stated intention to promote peaceful political and economic reform in Arabic countries. We strongly recommend that the Government continue to place emphasis on the promotion of human rights within those countries. (Paragraph 117)

21.  We recommend that the Government continue to engage actively with all sides in the Middle East conflict, encouraging them to respect human rights and making the point that this will enhance the prospects for an overall peace settlement. (Paragraph 121)

22.  We conclude that the security situation in Iraq remains extremely difficult but that, if the new government is to operate well, it should be seen to place respect for human rights and freedoms at the centre of its work. We recommend that the Government continue to offer support to the Iraqis in developing and implementing a human rights capacity. We recommend that the Government support the appointment of a UNCHR Special Rapporteur to Iraq. (Paragraph 128)

23.  We conclude that the dialogue on nuclear proliferation with Iran should not be allowed to eclipse the very serious human rights concerns which exist in that country and which appear to be worsening. We recommend that the Government set out, in its response to this Report, how it intends to use the dialogue with Iran on human rights over the next year to deliver real improvements. (Paragraph 132)

24.  We conclude that the Annual Report's increased detail regarding the situation in Saudi Arabia is welcome. We recommend that the Government continue to press the Saudi Arabian government to move towards greater respect for human rights, particularly in respect of equal rights for women within Saudi Arabian society. (Paragraph 136)

25.  We commend the Government for its work to support and enhance the work of the African Union in the human rights field and recommend that in its response to this Report it set out in detail how it intends to "build, consolidate and co-ordinate support for the AU." (Paragraph 140)

26.  We conclude that the shocking ongoing human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo represent a failure of the international community's efforts to assist the negotiation of a peace settlement. We recommend that the Government make very strong representations to the governments of Uganda and Rwanda to cease their destabilising activities in the country. We further recommend that the Government support efforts to hold perpetrators of crimes accountable and that it continue to support the efforts of the transitional national government in Democratic Republic of Congo to bring peace to the country. (Paragraph 146)

27.  We conclude that the apparent appalling behaviour of some UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo is compounding the problems of that fragile country and bringing the UN into disrepute. We recommend that the Government make the strongest representations to those troop-contributing countries involved to ensure that this behaviour is stopped and the perpetrators brought to justice. We further recommend that the Government set out its suggestions for how this behaviour might be prevented in other UN peacekeeping missions. (Paragraph 148)

28.  We commend the Government for its aid projects and efforts to secure a peace agreement in Uganda but conclude that its attention has been distracted from the very pressing human rights concerns associated with the conflict. We recommend that the Government, as a significant donor to Uganda, maximise its efforts to stop human rights abuses there and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. (Paragraph 154)

29.  We conclude that the international community's response to the events in Darfur has been slow and inadequate, and that lives have been lost unnecessarily as a result. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out its position on actions to be taken against the government of Sudan to put a stop to the continuing abuses of human rights. We further recommend that the Government set out the lessons learnt from the inadequacy and slowness of the international response over 2003-04 and the actions which need to be taken to improve the response to crises of this nature. (Paragraph 159)

30.  We further recommend that the Government act in support of the referral of the crimes committed in Darfur to the International Criminal Court, including by persuading the US administration not to oppose it. (Paragraph 160)

31.  We recommend that the Government take steps both to help resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and to put pressure on the Eritrean government to improve its human rights record. (Paragraph 164)

32.  We conclude that the Government's work to isolate and put pressure on the Zimbabwean leadership for its economic mismanagement and deteriorating human rights record remains wholly justified and should be intensified where possible. We recommend that the Government continue to work with Zimbabwe's neighbours, and that it seek to persuade South Africa to use its considerable influence as regional leader to attempt to secure improvements in the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. (Paragraph 169)

33.  We conclude that the actions of King Gyanendra in taking control of Nepal are destabilising and unacceptable. We recommend that the Government use all diplomatic means to secure the return of multi-party democracy to Nepal, as a first step to finding a settlement to the internal conflict in that country. (Paragraph 173)

34.  We conclude that the UK-China Human Rights dialogue is failing to deliver results with sufficient speed, despite the incremental progress described in the Annual Report. We recommend that the Government review the continuation of the dialogue in this light. We further recommend that the Government set specific goals for the dialogue, with appropriate timescales by which it hopes to achieve them. (Paragraph 179)

35.  We recommend that the Government describe, in its response to this Report, how it co-ordinates the UK-China dialogue with the EU-China dialogue and with other mechanisms available to the UK and EU to encourage positive change in China on human rights. (Paragraph 180)

36.  We conclude that the raising of the EU arms embargo on China would send the wrong signal at this time, in the absence of strong undertakings from the Chinese government to address human rights issues. (Paragraph 182)

37.  We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out its view of the Ordinance Regarding Religious Beliefs and Religious Organisations which recently passed into law in Vietnam and an assessment of its likely impact on religious freedom in that country. (Paragraph 186)

38.  We conclude that the abuses being perpetrated in Burma, in particular against the ethnic Karen, Karenni and Shan people, are appalling and that increased international pressure is needed to address the situation. We recommend that the Government give its assessment of whether or not a policy of genocide against those groups is being pursued by the Burmese government, and what actions should be taken by the international community. We further recommend that the Government use its Presidency of the EU to achieve a common position on action to be taken in the event of Burma being allowed to assume the presidency of ASEAN in 2006. We also recommend that the Government support the provision of assistance to internally displaced persons in Burma. (Paragraph 190)

39.  We conclude that the Russian state faces formidable problems with terrorism but that this cannot be used as a pretext for a failure to respect human rights. We conclude that, in concentrating almost exclusively on Chechnya, the Annual Human Rights Report does not pay enough attention to the human rights situation in the rest of Russia, and we recommend that the Annual Human Rights Report 2005 include more information on this. We further recommend that the Government make clear at every level that Russia should do more to promote and protect human rights both in Chechnya and in the country as a whole. (Paragraph 195)

40.  We conclude that the Government is right to make human rights the primary focus of its relations with Uzbekistan and we recommend that it maintain this stance until real improvements are evident. (Paragraph 199)

41.  We welcome the fact that since 1998 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has published an increasingly comprehensive, well set-out and useful Annual Report on Human Rights. We recommend that the FCO continue this practice. (Paragraph 202)