ABOUT

Founded in 1976 by Lord Avebury,

the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG)

is a long-standing All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), currently chaired by Fabian Hamilton MP.

The PHRG works under the direction of and with UK Parliamentarians on a cross-party basis, to raise awareness, in the UK and more widely, of serious human rights violations occurring outside of the UK, especially in relation to civil and political rights, and to lobby decision-makers for redress and reform.

The Parliamentary mandate and platform support engagement with decision-makers, calls for justice and an end to abuses, and the promotion of greater respect for the international human rights framework.

The PHRG's cross-party nature underlies its political neutrality and the broad consensus on the importance of the international human rights framework globally.

As well as reacting to the current news agenda, the PHRG lobbies on longer-term, and often ignored or intractable, human rights situations, such as those in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Central America and West Papua.

Please note, the PHRG's remit is limited to political and civil rights violations,

and related matters, outside of the United Kingdom.

Primary Objectives

To facilitate the participation of UK Parliamentarians in foreign policy debates and discussions, and their input into related policy formulation and implementation, by providing relevant and timely information and perspectives on international human rights issues and situations, in briefings and at meetings.
To help UK Parliamentarians ensure the UK remains a credible human rights champion internationally, by enabling greater oversight of UK Government policies and constructive engagement with Ministers and officials.
To assist UK Parliamentarians in supporting, protecting and empowering victims of serious human rights violations and human rights defenders, by maintaining an ongoing dialogue with them, raising concerns with relevant interlocutors and in relevant bilateral and international forums, and providing platforms for them to engage with decision-makers.
To strengthen interaction and collaboration between UK Parliamentarians and UK-based and international human rights NGOs, by developing long-standing relationships through informal and formal meetings and joint activities.