To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to assess the effectiveness of projects supported by the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Programme.

The effectiveness of projects sponsored by the FCO under the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Programme has been measured using the following indicators of success for the various thematic priorities:

Death Penalty

A net increase of one a year in the number of countries adopting a moratorium or which abolish the death penalty due, at least in part, to UK intervention.

Combating Torture

A measurable increase in the number of countries adopting specific laws criminalising torture;

An increase in the number of countries developing domestic mechanisms for inspecting detention centres;

An increase in signatures and ratification of Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocols.

Freedom of Expression

The successful resolution of cases of specific concern in countries of particular concern;

A measurable reduction in the incidence of hate speech.

Rule of Law

An increase in number of countries with responsibility for the penitentiary transferred to the Ministry of Justice;

An increase in number of countries with functioning, independent, professional judiciaries and legal professions.

Child rights

An increase in the number of ratifications of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.

Discrimination

An increase in the implementation of international minority rights standards at the national level.