Human Rights - Score: +1

"We will take care to ensure that women as well as men benefit fully and equally from the recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are reiterated on the occasion of the Beijing Conference, and that the rights of children be respected."

General Human Rights (0)

As a practical demonstration of her continuing commitment to the work of the Yugoslav and Rwandan International Criminal Tribunals, Britain has made and continues to make substantial contributions to them. In regards to the Yugoslav Tribunal, the British government continues to provide intelligence information in arrest and transfer to the Tribunal of indicted individuals, , the Defence Debriefing Team of the Ministry of Defence assists in evidence-gathering the quality of which has been praised by both the UN Commission of Experts and the Prosecutor's Office, and Britain contributes considerable financial resources to the Tribunal to fund the secondment of personnel and the provision of equipment. While the Rwandan Tribunal has seen a somewhat slower progression than that in Yugoslavia, the British government has made similar commitments to the Tribunal.

Children's Rights (+1)

In January, 1997, Officers from Britain's National Criminal Intelligence Service and UK Interpol visited the Philippines in a bid to improve practical police co-operation between the two nations on a range of criminal activities including child sex tourism.

The government announced in August, 1996, that it would legislate to take jurisdiction over acts of child sexual abuse committed abroad by Britains or British residents, representing a significant departure from the normal arrangements for the jurisdiction of British courts. The Sex Offenders Bill was introduced by the Government on December 18, 1996. Additionally, the British government also agreed to provide legal assistance on a mutual basis to countries investigating British nationals or residents who may be involved in child abuse and is willing to extradite British nationals to stand trial abroad.

As a participant in the August, 1996 World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the British government agreed with the other participants that concerted action was needed at local, national, regional and international levels to bring an end to practices involved.

In July, 1996, the London Metropolitan Police organized a training course in the Philippines aimed at bringing together relevant agencies to work with each other to provide an effective response to child abuse.

The Sexual Offences Act received Royal Assent on July 4, 1996 and came into force on October 1, 1996. The Act catches tour operators who organize travel abroad for child molesters and groups of child abusers who plan trips together for the purpose of sexually abusing children. It also makes advertisements for such trips illegal.