The Joint Committee on Human Rights
The work done in June 2025 by this committee has been vital in todays social media dominated age.
By the UK House of Lords and House of Commons: Seventh Report of Session 2024–25 HC 681 / HL Paper 160
Current membership
House of Lords
- Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench; Life peer) (Chair)
- Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrat; Life peer)
- Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour; Life peer)
- Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon (Labour; Life peer)
- Lord Murray of Blidworth (Conservative; Life peer)
- Lord Sewell of Sanderstead (Conservative; Life peer)
House of Commons
- Juliet Campbell (Labour; Broxtowe)
- Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough)
- Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme)
- Alex Sobel (Labour; Leeds Central and Headingley)
- Peter Swallow (Labour; Bracknell)
- Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative; New Forest West)
Introduction to their report [link to download full PDF report]
People from countries around the world come to the UK as a place of safety from repression. However, transnational repression (TNR) risks undermining the UK’s ability to protect the human rights of its citizens and those who have sought safety within its borders. It is deeply concerning to hear increasing reports of foreign governments moving beyond their own national borders to persecute people in the UK.
The Committee received credible evidence that a number of states have engaged in acts of transnational repression on UK soil. These actions have a serious impact on those targeted, instilling fear, limiting their freedom of expression and movement, and undermining their sense of safety.
Despite the seriousness of the threat, the UK currently lacks a clear strategy to address TNR. There is no formal definition of transnational repression in the UK and the Government does not routinely collect data on TNR events. Understanding the scale and nature of the threat is essential to formulating effective and proportionate responses. We therefore recommend that the Government adopt a formal definition of TNR and establish data collection and monitoring mechanisms.
Police officers often lack the training necessary to respond effectively to TNR, resulting in inconsistent and ineffective support for TNR victims. We call for specialised training for police officers on the early warning signs of TNR and for the creation of a dedicated reporting line for TNR victims. We are deeply concerned by the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices1 by certain member states. Refusal by the INTERPOL secretariat to acknowledge that there is a problem and to take remedial action poses a significant threat to the rights and freedoms of individuals targeted by authoritarian regimes and sends a message that this behaviour is acceptable.
We call on the Government to put pressure on INTERPOL to reform procedures and call out serial abusers. We also propose that the Government consider introducing a formal mechanism by which the Home Office or the National Crime Agency could alert individuals to the existence of a Red Notice, where there is a strong basis to believe it has been politically motivated.
Transnational repression is a serious and under-recognised threat that requires urgent and coordinated international action. Its impacts extend far beyond those directly targeted, creating a broader ‘chilling effect on
entire communities and undermining fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, assembly, and association. We urge the Government to work with likeminded states to support efforts to elevate TNR as a priority issue on the UN agenda and to promote coordinated international action against its use by authoritarian regimes.