Transnational Repression, or TNR, is a threat to democracy, human rights and security across British society. As a result, in September 2024, the Tackling TNR in the UK Working Group was founded to ensure the UK has the necessary protections in place.
The Tackling TNR in the UK Working Group
The Working Group is an informal group of individuals and organisations working on Transnational Repression (TNR) in the UK, with the ultimate aim of advancing the UK’s policy response. The Working Group was established in September 2024, following a workshop organised by the University of Lancaster’s Richardson Institute and the Foreign Policy Centre.
The Group works to:
- research and monitor incidents and effects of TNR in the UK;
- support individuals and groups affected by TNR; and
- identify and shape the development of a comprehensive policy response to TNR in the UK.
The Working Group steering committee includes members from The Foreign Policy Centre, Richardson Institute at Lancaster University, Index on Censorship, Reporters Without Borders, AZADI Network, Amnesty International UK, Impact Shift and The Rights Practice.
As well as this committee, the Working Group has a number of sub-groups to deliver its work. They include:
- Communications sub-group
- Parliamentary engagement sub-group
- Definition and criteria sub-group
- Academia and TNR sub-group
The Working Group meets monthly, and engages with a wide range of stakeholders including targets and targeted communities, policy-makers in Parliament and Government, external researchers and representatives of the public bodies, such as law enforcement agencies and universities.