On 28 June, the UK Government published a White Paper, “The
Overseas Territories: Security, Success and Sustainability”,
setting out its approach to our Overseas Territories. Our
fundamental responsibility is to ensure the security and good
governance of the Territories and their peoples. This
responsibility flows from international law, including the
Charter of the United Nations. It also follows from our shared
history and political commitment to the well-being of all
British nationals. This requires us, among other things, to
promote the political, economic, social and educational
advancement of the people of the Territories, to ensure their
just treatment and their protection against abuses, and to
develop their self-government and free political institutions.
The UK and the Territories share a common agenda to promote and
protect human rights and tackle discrimination. The UK
Government expects the Territories to abide by the same
standards of human rights as the UK. Each Territory has its own
constituti