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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2024.

Joint Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Mr President,

This statement is on behalf of 54 countries.

We commend the Commission of Inquiry’s continued work in shining light on large-scale, systematic, and arbitrary or unjust detentions and related violations and abuses. This, together with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, is crucial for ensuring accountability.

We deplore the fact that tens of thousands of Syrians are estimated to have been subjected to arbitrary and incommunicado detention. Torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence, have been reported on an alarming scale, and continue to this day. We strongly condemn all deaths, torture and abuse of detainees in detention facilities, particularly in Syrian government facilities. We recall the Commission’s clear assessment that the rights of detained persons have not been respected throughout the conflict.

Tens of thousands of families continue to live with the anguish caused by not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones. Cooperation, by all parties to the conflict, with the newly created Independent Institution on Missing Persons is also essential.

Mr President,

The Syrian regime and all parties must cease such practices; release unjustly detained Syrians; clarify the fate of the missing; ensure appropriate access for independent and humanitarian monitoring organisations and hold those responsible to account.

Finally, we reiterate our call for a sustainable and comprehensive political solution for Syria in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.

Co-signatories: 1. Albania 2. Andorra 3. Argentina 4. Australia 5. Austria 6. Belgium 7. Bulgaria 8. Canada 9. Czechia 10. Colombia 11. Costa Rica 12. Croatia 13. Cyprus 14. Denmark 15. Ecuador 16. Estonia 17. Finland 18. France 19. Germany 20. Georgia 21. Greece 22. Hungary 23. Iceland 24. Ireland 25. Israel 26. Italy 27. Japan 28. Latvia 29. Liechtenstein 30. Lithuania 31. Luxembourg 32. Malta 33. Monaco 34. Montenegro 35. Moldova 36. Netherlands 37. New Zealand 38. North Macedonia 39. Norway 40. Poland 41. Portugal 42. Qatar 43. Republic of Korea 44. Romania 45. San Marino 46. Slovakia 47. Slovenia 48. Spain 49. Sweden 50. Switzerland 51. Turkey 52. UK 53. Ukraine 54. US

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 July 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia’s violations of international law damages global security. Their approach is rooted in chaos, the rule of force, and is accepted only by a few hostile states.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Russia continues to contravene the universal principles to which every member of the OSCE, including Russia, has subscribed; the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.

Russia has violated all of this by aggressively invading its neighbour, Ukraine. There is no escaping this reality, which is in complete violation of international law. And yet, Russia’s narrative is to suggest that it has a new offer, in which such actions would be legitimate. This is its offer of ‘Multipolarity’.

Russia’s projection of multipolarity stands for the rule of force. It promotes illegal and anarchic behaviours, tearing up the rulebook because it doesn’t suit. It is there to maintain power for President Putin and a narrow cohort of Kremlin elites.

Russia’s vision of multipolarity is embraced by hostile States; Iran has given Russia one-way attack drones which inflict pain, suffering and death on its neighbour; and North Korea, who Russia sources munitions from, in spite of international sanctions.

Russia’s view of the world is cynical. It is a view of the world, thankfully, embraced by only a very few. It is incumbent on us in this Forum, and this organisation more broadly, to stand strong against this worldview, and to embrace the universal principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

That is why it matters so much to continue to support Ukraine. It matters in its own right, to support a nation who has had untold aggression brought to its land. But it matters more broadly, for Russia threatens to undermine the very basis on which nations around the world can peacefully co-exist. This is why the United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against tyranny and aggression for as long as it takes. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 July 2024.

UK statement for Interactive Dialogue on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Report on New and Emerging Technologies. Delivered at 56th HRC.

Thank you, Madame Vice-President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the OHCHR report, and work in this area. We recognise that the development, deployment and use of new and emerging technologies have profound implications for the enjoyment of human rights. That’s why the UK wants the Global Digital Compact to reinforce that existing international law and international human rights law applies online as it does offline, and to champion the positive potential of digital technologies to enable human rights.

Last year the UK hosted a dialogue at Wilton Park on New and Emerging Technology and Human Rights. The outcomes of the dialogue included a recommendation that encouraged governments, businesses and civil society to map and prioritise specific human rights risks in the context of new and emerging technologies, and to work together to better target collective efforts. Global cooperation is vital for ensuring that both technologies and the rules governing their use are developed in a way that safeguards human rights.

The UK welcomes further recommendations from the OHCHR on how we can take concrete measures to ensure a multi-stakeholder approach for protecting and promoting human rights in the field of new and emerging technologies.

Thank you.