Prestigious appointment for Professor Surya Subedi
Surya Subedi (OBE), Professor of International Law at the University, has been appointed a member of new Human Rights Advisory Group being established by Foreign Secretary Mr William Hague.
Professor Subedi, who already serves as the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia, said: "When it comes to speaking out on the issues of human rights and democracy internationally, Britain's is still a voice the world listens to and respects above many others.
"I was pleased when the Foreign Secretary stated that the promotion and protection of human rights internationally would be a top priority of British foreign policy. I am looking forward to working as a member of this Advisory Group with the task of assisting the British Government in promoting human rights worldwide."
The group will meet for the first time on 2 December 2010 and is composed of:
Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK
Dr Chaloka Beyani, LSE and UN Special Rapporteur on Internally Displaced People
Dr Agnés Callamard, Director of Article 19
Joel Edwards, International Director of Micha Challenge
Malcolm Evans OBE, University of Bristol, UK member of the United Nations Sub-committee on the Prevention of Torture
Sapna Malik, Partner, Leigh Day and Co. Solicitors
Professor Susan Marks, LSE
Tim Otty QC, Blackstone Chambers
Tom Porteous, Director of Human Rights Watch, London
Sir Nigel Rodley, University of Essex, Member of the UN Human Rights Committee
Dame Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB
Professor Surya Subedi OBE, University of Leeds and UN Special Rapporteur for Cambodia
Sir Nicholas Young, Chief Executive, the British Red Cross.
The individuals have been invited in a personal capacity, to provide external advice on human rights in foreign policy, and on options for addressing human rights problems. The group will be chaired by the Foreign Secretary and will hold two meetings a year. Junior ministers and Foreign Office officials will also chair additional meetings on key issues agreed by the group.
The Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Human rights are essential to and indivisible from the UK's foreign policy priorities. The members of this group are eminent individuals with a broad range of human rights experience, drawn from NGOs, the legal and academic communities and international bodies.
"I am delighted that they have agreed to join this Group and look forward to working with them to improve and strengthen our international human rights work."
The fact is that Britain is treated with a higher degree of respect because of our contribution to shaping the modern international agenda of human rights.
The Group will advise the Foreign Secretary about human rights challenges and the Foreign Office on the conduct of its policy. It will be chaired by the Foreign Secretary himself.
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