Rights In Focus: Progressive Foreign Policy

The world is at a historic juncture. We face an unprecedented number of assaults on our rules-based system, taking place against a backdrop of numerous foreign policy challenges: from widespread inequality, climate change and the closing of civic space, to the spread of authoritarian practices, increasing conflict and persistent impunity for mass atrocities. The sheer scale of these problems requires global solutions – and a strengthening of the rules-based system which makes them possible. A fundamental component of that system is protection and promotion of human rights.

‘Human rights provide a compass to steer us through the challenges of our time, from the climate crisis to technological developments’ - Volker Türk, UN high commissioner for human rights, September 2025

Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, successive UK governments have committed to promote human rights and the rule of law in their foreign policy, both because it is the right thing to do, and because it is in the UK’s national interest. Crucially, however, such commitments have rarely been met in full – hampered not only by geopolitical crises and economic downturn, but also a lack of political leadership, and policy and actions that are inconsistent with the UK’s duties under international law. The result is a contradictory approach to human rights – championing them in one context, but disregarding them when they appear inconvenient.

Take a few examples from the current UK government. On the one hand it has committed to remain a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, provided at least £13.8 million for the investigation of war crimes in Ukraine, and expressly included in the Ministerial Code the overarching duty to comply with international law. But on the other hand it has failed to effectively challenge Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and at home uses draconian measures to restrict freedom of expression and criminalise protest, treating people peacefully opposing genocide as ‘terrorists’. Such instances of hypocrisy and double standards harm the UK’s own interests. As three top former diplomats put it: ‘Our credibility on the international stage depends on greater consistency between domestic and international policies. As an open and highly interconnected economy and society, the UK’s future security and prosperity depends on rules and values being upheld internationally.’ If the government’s approach to foreign affairs is to serve UK interests, human rights standards and principles must now be applied consistently.

This booklet is part of a series exploring what a progressive foreign policy means in practice.