How does the Commonwealth respond to human rights concerns?
The Commonwealth funds human rights work, observes elections, and can suspend its members. Challenges include democracy and LGBT+ rights.
This paper provides details and links for ministerial statements, urgent questions and parliamentary debates (from both Houses of Parliament) that cover international affairs and defence.
International affairs and defence: Parliamentary debates and statements in the 2022-23 session (1MB PDF)
This paper provides details and links for ministerial statements, urgent questions and parliamentary debates that covered international affairs and defence during the 2022-23 session (from both Houses of Parliament).
The paper is divided into two main sections: geographic regions – covering areas such as the Middle East and China; and themes – including areas such as defence and human rights.
The coloured panel on the left of each entry indicates in which Chamber the debate or statement took place: green for House of Commons and red for House of Lords.
Debates and statements for the previous Parliamentary sessions were covered in the following briefing papers:
Note: Debates and statements related to Brexit and the UK’s future relationship with the EU are not covered in these papers but have been included in earlier briefings: Brexit statements (CBP-8467, 17 February 2020); Brexit debates 2019 (CBP-8489, 23 January 2020); Brexit debates 2018 (CBP-8246, 7 January 2019); and Brexit debates: June 2016 – December 2017 (CBP-8131, 19 December 2017).
International affairs and defence: Parliamentary debates and statements in the 2022-23 session (1MB PDF)
The Commonwealth funds human rights work, observes elections, and can suspend its members. Challenges include democracy and LGBT+ rights.
A briefing paper which "maps" (or summarises) the main elements of the United Kingdom's uncodified constitution.
This paper provides a timeline of the major events in the Ukraine-Russia conflict since the 2022 Russian invasion.