As the Overseas Operations Bill travels through government, RSI has stayed abreast of developments and advised the relevant parliamentary bodies on the legal and policy implications of the bill, proposing amendments where relevant to address human rights concerns. As the bill is prepared to be read at the committee stage, RSI has drafted its latest briefing to committee members.
This briefing outlines RSI’s concerns about the impact of the Overseas Operations Bill on both criminal prosecutions (addressed in Part 1 of the Bill), and civil claims (addressed in Part 2 of the Bill).
Firstly, RSI is gravely concerned about the Bill’s absolute six-year longstop on the basis that it will (a) unjustifiably bar meritorious claims; (b) foster a wider culture of impunity within the MoD in respect of overseas operations; and (c) risk placing the UK in breach of its international human rights law obligations.
Secondly, RSI is also concerned about the creation of a one-sided discretion to disapply the standard limitation periods within the six-year mark on the basis that it is (a) discriminatory, (b) inappropriate, (c) disproportionate, and (d) unnecessary.
For more information, please download our latest briefing underneath.
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