AMNESTY DRAWS UP HUMAN RIGHTS BALANCE SHEET FOR LABOUR'S TERM OF OFFICE

Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, said:

'Despite real progress in some areas, the Labour Government still has outstanding commitments to introduce legislation to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court and to control the terrible trade in arms that can be used to violate human rights.

'What is needed now is personal commitment from the Prime Minister to drive through these areas of unfinished business before the General Election.'

The Audit covers: · international relations and diplomacy · the Arms · asylum policy · international justice · international human rights standards.

On the positive side, Amnesty International applauds the Government's swift action in providing support for UN forces in Sierra Leone this year; its work in promoting abolition of the death penalty; and the day-to-day work done to support human rights overseas by many of Britain's diplomatic missions.

But the report is critical of the Government's muted response to mass human rights violations by strategic states such as the Russian Federation and China – in contrast to its swift response to the crises in Sierra Leone and East Timor; its extension of pre-entry controls to prevent asylum seekers entering the UK; and its failure to introduce effective arms controls as recommended in the Scott Report.