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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Violence against Children [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Violence against Children [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    We welcome the report and advocacy of the Special Representative to end violence against children around the world, and for bringing our collective attention to the specific vulnerabilities faced by children on the move.

    Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to gravely violate children’s rights. Over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia or Russian temporarily controlled territory by Russian authorities. Only 388 children have so far been returned to Ukraine.

    We are also deeply concerned by reports that Ukrainian children forcibly taken from Ukraine are being adopted in Russia. This is a despicable and systematic attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, and with it, Ukraine’s future.

    We are determined to hold to account those responsible for forcibly deporting and attempting to indoctrinate Ukrainian children.

    We call for Russia to cease its aggression and for the immediate, safe return of all Ukrainian children so that they can rightly be reunited with their families and loved ones, where they belong.

    Madam Special Representative,

    In your report you highlight the importance of the right of the child to preserve their identity in the context of conflicts. How can your mandate contribute to our collective endeavour to safely return all Ukrainian children?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Wrongful Post Office convictions to be quashed through landmark legislation [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wrongful Post Office convictions to be quashed through landmark legislation [March 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 March 2024.

    Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today [Wednesday 13 March].

    • Government introduces new legislation to automatically quash convictions relating to the Horizon Scandal
    • £75,000 redress payment extended to ensure swift and fairer redress for postmasters who weren’t convicted but suffered as a result of the scandal
    • Comes as £179 million paid to around 2,800 victims so far with further measures introduced to accelerate payments

    Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today [Wednesday 13 March].

    This blanket exoneration, delivered through the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, will quash convictions brought about by erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined.

    Affected sub-postmasters will receive an interim payment with the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000, so that they can finally begin to rebuild their lives.

    Under the proposed Bill, convictions will be automatically quashed if they meet the following criteria:

    • Were prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
    • Were for offences carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.
    • Were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting.
    • Were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.

    Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak MP, said:

    I want to pay tribute to all the postmasters who have shown such courage and perseverance in their fierce campaign for justice, and to those who tragically won’t see the justice they deserve.

    While I know that nothing can make up for what they’ve been through, today’s legislation marks an important step forward in finally clearing their names.

    We owe it to the victims of this scandal who have had their lives and livelihoods callously torn apart, to deliver the justice they’ve fought so long and hard for, and to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

    The Government has also confirmed it will bring forward enhanced financial redress for postmasters who were not convicted, or part of legal action against the Post Office, but who still suffered considerably due to Horizon failures. These individuals, also known as the Horizon Shortfall Scheme cohort, will have the option to receive a fixed sum payment of £75,000.

    Those who have already settled for less money will have their redress topped up to this level bringing them in line with the successful approach taken for members of the Group Litigation Order group of postmasters.

    The Department for Business and Trade will now be responsible for delivering the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme which will make redress payments to those who have had their convictions quashed by today’s legislation. The aim is to have the scheme open for applications as soon as possible once the legislation has been passed.

    Postal Affairs Minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP, said:

    Postmasters have been fighting for justice for years, and I hope the introduction of today’s legislation is the light at the end of the tunnel they have been waiting for.

    It is only right that postmasters have access to swift and fair compensation which is why those with overturned convictions have the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000 and why we are changing the rules for those in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, so they are entitled to a £75,000 fixed sum award, bypassing the assessment process.

    For those who don’t choose this option, their claims can be assessed as part of the usual scheme process, in which there is no limit to compensation.”

    Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch MP, said:

    It is absolutely right that we sweep away the convictions wrongly given to postmasters on the basis of bad evidence, and it is a disgrace that they were ever pursued by the Post Office.

    This is just the latest step in the road to delivering the justice the postmasters deserve. Since the High Court ruling in December 2019, this government has established a Statutory Inquiry, paid millions in compensation, supportedlegal fees for victims and announced plans to overturn convictions.

    That is government in action, and we won’t rest until every victim receives the compensation they are entitled to.

    Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk MP, said:

    Today’s legislation is a watershed moment for sub-postmasters who have campaigned tirelessly for justice in the wake of the Horizon scandal.

    These are exceptional circumstances which require an exceptional response to ensure those who were wrongly convicted can not only clear their names but be fairly and swiftly compensated.”

    The Horizon IT Scandal is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history which dates back to the 1990s, and this Government has gripped it to right the wrongs of the past. But this doesn’t come from a standing start – the Government has spent years getting us to this point.

    In February 2020, the Government launched the independent Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure it can never happen again. The first government-funded compensation payment was paid out via the Horizon Shortfall Scheme in March 2021 and – since then – it has paid out around 60% of all claims. This amounts to around £179 million to over 2,800 claimants – but this legislation will speed up justice and get the rightful redress for victims much more rapidly.

    The Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales. The Government will continue to work closely with their counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland as they develop their own plans. Regardless of where or how convictions are quashed, redress will be paid to victims across the whole of the UK on the same basis.

    The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board’s Chair, Professor Christopher Hodges, said:

    The Government has taken rapid and decisive action to address the widespread injustice to which we drew attention in December.

    We also welcome the Government’s decision to take direct responsibility for delivering fair compensation to those whose convictions are overturned.”

    Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham and member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, said:

    It’s great news that the Government has taken the advice of the independent Advisory Board, on which I sit, and introduced the Post Office Offences Bill.

    This will exonerate hundreds of victims who were convicted as a result of the Post Office Horizon IT system.

    It is essential that we get this Bill passed as soon as possible before Summer recess so that those affected can get the justice and compensation they have fought so long for.”

    The Government acknowledges the risk that this legislation could quash convictions of people who were genuinely guilty of a crime. In line with the wishes of campaigners the Government will make all efforts to ensure this is targeted on those wrongly convicted and make sure nobody who defrauded the system is able to access taxpayer-funded compensation.

    Before receiving financial redress, sub-postmasters will be required to sign a legal statement vowing that they did not commit the crime for which they were originally convicted. Any person found to have signed a statement falsely in order to gain financial redress may be guilty of fraud.

    The Government will continue to push this legislation through Parliament with the aim of achieving Royal Assent as soon as possible ahead of summer recess. Redress will be delivered as swiftly as possible after the quashing of convictions are processed.

    The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, which includes long time parliamentary campaigners on this issue such as Lord Arbuthnot, Professor Christopher Hodges and Kevan Jones MP, has warmly welcomed the proposed legislation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 2024 Rohingya Joint Response Plan – UK statement [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : 2024 Rohingya Joint Response Plan – UK statement [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    On 13 March the UK announced a further £5.2 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, at the launch of the 2024 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Geneva.

    UK statement delivered at the launch of the 2024 Joint Response Plan, hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Government of Bangladesh.

    High Commissioner Grandi, Director General Pope, Foreign Secretary and Principal Secretary, and colleagues.

    I would like to begin by recognising the significant efforts of the Government of Bangladesh in hosting almost one million Rohingya refugees for over six years. I would also like to thank our humanitarian partners, their staff and the volunteers on the ground, for continuing to deliver such a comprehensive response.

    The UK remains deeply concerned by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh and the worsening situation in Myanmar, including for the Rohingya in Rakhine state. Their suffering has only been compounded by the escalation of the conflict. We will continue to use our role as UN Security Council penholder to seek to address the worsening situation in Myanmar and to push for a long-term solution to the Rohingya’s suffering.

    Until the conditions in Myanmar allow for the refugees to return in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner, the UK remains committed to supporting the Rohingya in Bangladesh, as emphasised in our pledge at the Global Refugee Forum in December.

    I am therefore pleased to announce today that the UK is providing a further £5.2 million of humanitarian assistance, including food and cooking gas, to the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar. This brings the UK’s support to the Rohingya and neighbouring communities in Bangladesh to £379 million since 2017. The UK has also provided over £30 million for Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Rakhine State in this period, and we commit to providing further assistance in 2024.

    We welcome this year’s Joint Response Plan. The response in Bangladesh continues to provide vital assistance and we welcome the positive progress, including the completion of the Myanmar curriculum rollout, and an increase in skills development opportunities.

    However, we are deeply troubled by the overall deterioration in conditions for the refugees last year. As we have heard today, protection incidents and insecurity rose significantly; two ration cuts pushed malnutrition to emergency levels, the highest since 2017; and the number of Rohingya undertaking dangerous journeys at sea rose by 22%.

    We all know that globally the gap between humanitarian needs and funding continues to grow. It is therefore essential that the response continues to work in the most effective and efficient way possible to meet the needs of those affected.

    We recognise the challenges that the Government of Bangladesh faces in managing this situation. The UK will continue to work supportively and collaboratively with your government, Foreign Secretary and Principal Secretary, taking into account your concerns about the impact of the refugee presence, in order to find a sustainable way forward. This involves:

    • continuing to support the Rohingya and affected Bangladeshi communities;
    • addressing the worsening protection and security challenges in the camps;
    • providing safe shelters that protect the Rohingya against cyclones and fires; and,
    • offering the Rohingya more self-reliance, and less dependence on humanitarian aid.

    Let me end by reiterating the UK’s commitment to the Rohingya, and the communities that host them, and to working with you all to resolve the underlying causes of this tragic crisis.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Urgent call to smokers to make a quit attempt for No Smoking Day [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Urgent call to smokers to make a quit attempt for No Smoking Day [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 March 2024.

    Smokers in England are being urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day to improve their health and wealth.

    • 5.3 million smokers in England urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, as one of the best things they can do for their health and their wealth
    • With up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers dying from smoking and causing 64,000 deaths in England each year, No Smoking Day remains important 40 years on from its launch
    • “It’s never too late to quit”: presenter Coleen Nolan tells us why she is stopping smoking following a recent health scare and reassures others on taking first steps to a smokefree life
    • It comes as the Prime Minister’s landmark legislation to create a smokefree generation is due to be introduced

    Leading charities, including Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Cancer Research UK and Asthma + Lung UK, are joining forces with the government to encourage the nation’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, 13 March 2024.

    The campaign comes as part of the government’s bold plans to bring about the first smokefree generation and introduce legislation so children turning 15 this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco.  Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital in England with a smoking-related disease and in 2022 to 2023 there were over 400,000 hospital admissions in England due to smoking.

    Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, at any age, and the benefits begin immediately. After 8 hours your oxygen levels recover and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours all carbon monoxide will have been flushed out, your lungs will clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell improve.

    Stopping smoking is also one of the best things people can do to save money to spend on other things. The average smoker spends around £47 a week on tobacco, which is around £2,450 a year. More broadly, it costs society over £17 billion per year, which includes a £14 billion cost to productivity and a £3 billion cost to the NHS and social care.

    Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said:

    Smoking is the biggest preventable killer in the UK and places a huge burden on our NHS. Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England – no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.

    That’s why No Smoking Day is still so important 40 years on from its launch.  We are taking action to prevent our children from ever lighting a cigarette, and our proposed historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill will safeguard the next generation from the harms of smoking and risk of addiction.

    Up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers will die from their smoking. Despite the harms associated with smoking, it’s estimated that nearly 50 million cigarettes are smoked every day in England, with every single one negatively impacting the smoker’s health.

    Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor ​​Chris Whitty, said:

    Cigarettes kill. They cause at least 15 different types of cancers and increase your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions.

    Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – no matter your age or how long you have smoked.

    Today, presenter, singer and TV personality Coleen Nolan – who smoked for over 40 years and is currently on her quitting journey following a health scare – shares her story to encourage others to join her.

    Singer and presenter Coleen Nolan said:

    I smoked for about 40 years and was heavily influenced by my friends and family around me. At such a young age I wasn’t aware of the health risks of smoking and soon found myself becoming addicted.

    Following a recent health scare, I realised how precious life is and became determined to quit, not just for my own health, but so I can be there fully for my children and grandchildren. To anyone out there thinking of giving up smoking, my advice is do it!

    She is joined by ex-smoker and cancer survivor Sue Mountain, who shares her story in a bid to urge smokers to quit smoking before it’s too late. Sue features in a powerful TV advert released by the department as part of a new smokefree campaign, encouraging people to quit smoking.

    Sue Mountain said:

    I never once thought I’d get cancer. Not once. To tell your family you’ve got cancer through smoking is really hard. My kids thought they were going to lose their mam.

    Smoking rates have reduced by two-thirds since the first year of No Smoking Day 40 years ago, but smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England – estimated to account for 64,000 deaths annually.

    Stopping smoking is the best thing people can do for their health, and it can significantly reduce the risk of younger people taking up smoking and becoming addicted. Currently, 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and smoking from a younger age is linked to being more likely to smoke in later years.

    Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including a ​​local stop smoking services look-up tool and advice on stop smoking aids, including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.

    As part of the government’s Swap to Stop scheme, almost 1 in 5 of all adult smokers in England will have access to a vape kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit and improve health outcomes.

    Plans to introduce the most significant public health intervention in a generation and phase out smoking are progressing at pace, with the UK now in the lead to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation. The government is proposing the phasing out of the sale of tobacco so that any child born on or after 1 January 2009 can never legally be sold cigarettes.

    Be part of the change and help build a smokefree generation. For free support to quit this No Smoking Day, search ‘smokefree’.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major humanitarian push as 150 tonnes of UK aid enter Gaza [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major humanitarian push as 150 tonnes of UK aid enter Gaza [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    Around 150 tonnes of UK aid, including more than 13,000 blankets and 840 family-sized tents, have entered Gaza today.

    • a UK field hospital will arrive this week to provide life-saving medical care
    • Foreign Secretary also announces further £10 million in aid funding, bringing UK support to more than £100 million this financial year

    Around 150 tonnes of UK aid, including more than 13,000 blankets and 840 family-sized tents, have entered Gaza today, where the United Nations [UNICEF] will distribute them to those in need.

    In addition, a full field hospital, provided by UK Aid funding to UK-Med, will arrive this week. The facility can be adapted according to needs on the ground and usually includes a pharmacy, triage area, major injuries and resuscitation unit, and maternity care tent.

    The field hospital left Manchester on 5 March and is on route to Gaza. This facility can be operational in as little as 48 hours and will be able to treat more than 100 patients a day. It will be staffed by both local health workers and international medics, including many from the UK, on the UK-Med Register.

    Alongside the latest deliveries of aid, the Foreign Secretary has announced a further £10 million in aid funding for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), bringing the total spend to over £100 million this financial year. This funding will support UN agencies on the ground to deliver lifesaving aid and will also provide core relief items, such as tents, for the most vulnerable.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    Too many people in Gaza are suffering. No one should be without basic amenities like shelter and bedding, and everyone deserves the dignity that basic hygiene kits provide. Our largest aid delivery, combined with a new UK funded field hospital, will save lives.

    But an immediate pause in the fighting is the only way to get aid into Gaza in the quantities desperately needed. This will also allow for the safe release of hostages.

    We could then work towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting or loss of life.

    Today’s additional 150 tonnes of UK core relief items for UNICEF will include 840 family tents, 13,440 blankets, almost 3,000 shelter kits, and shelter-fixing kits, 6,000 sleeping mats and more than 3,000 dignity kits to support women and girls.

    An estimated 3.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the OPTs, with over half a million at risk from famine.

    The UK is committed to ensuring aid reaches those who need it most, as Palestinians continue to face a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that Israel must increase capacity to safely distribute aid within Gaza. This includes opening a land crossing in the north and issuing more visas to UN staff who are capable of delivering aid when it arrives in Gaza.

    Ahead of this new funding, the UK had previously trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs. UK funding has supported the work of partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to deliver vital supplies.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK signs trade pact with second biggest US state – Texas [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK signs trade pact with second biggest US state – Texas [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 13 March 2024.

    UK and Texas sign a trade pact to boost investment and trade cooperation.

    • Texas is the largest and eighth US state to conclude a trade pact with the UK, bringing the combined GDP to £5.3 trillion – a quarter of US GDP
    • Statement of Mutual Cooperation will strengthen trade between the UK and Texas
    • Pact will benefit key sectors including energy, life sciences, and professional services

    The UK will today [Wednesday 13 March] sign a trade pact with Texas to boost trade and investment ties between the UK and Texas, as Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch welcomes Texas Governor Greg Abbott to London.

    Texas has the second largest US state economy, with a GDP of £1.9 trillion in 2022 – larger than Italy, making this the UK’s most economically significant trade pact with a US state to date.

    The pact aims to help make it quicker, easier, and cheaper for UK and Texas firms to do business by tackling trade barriers, growing investment, and driving commerce between the UK and Texas.

    The UK is Texas’ 8th largest international goods export market, with total trade in goods already worth £14.7 billion in 2023. The top products being exported to Texas include nuclear equipment, aircraft, and pharmaceutical products.

    This arrangement is targeted at sectors where the UK and Texas have shared expertise such as new energy solutions – including hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, life sciences, and professional business services.

    The signing comes just four months on from agreeing the UK-Florida Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), bringing the number of agreements with US states up to eight – worth a combined GDP of £5.3 trillion, which is greater than that of Japan and equivalent to a quarter of the US economy.

    Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

    I’m delighted to welcome Governor Abbott to the UK for this landmark signing.

    Today’s signature with Texas marks the UK’s eighth US state-level pact, meaning UK firms now have access to states with a combined GDP of £5.3 trillion – equivalent to a quarter of the whole US economy. This shows our US state-level strategy is working and really delivering for British businesses.

    Prioritising cooperation on innovative energy solutions such as hydrogen will help the UK to go further in achieving its aim to unlock more than 12,000 jobs and up to £11 billion of investment by 2030 in the hydrogen sector.

    The UK Government’s landmark ‘BioBridge’ collaboration with the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex, has already supported more than 30 innovative UK life sciences companies to grow their businesses in Texas – this SMC will help deepen economic ties in this critical sector even further.

    The pact will also support recognition of professional qualifications. Texas is already signed up to the mutual recognition agreement for architects which UK and US bodies concluded last year, and there is ongoing work towards a similar agreement for engineering.

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott said:

    As our ninth largest trade partner, the United Kingdom plays a critical role in the Texas economic juggernaut.

    Strengthening the bond between Texas and the United Kingdom is crucial for our shared economies to prosper.

    By signing this Statement of Mutual Cooperation today, we will further promote economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic. Texas is the economic engine of America, where entrepreneurs from around the globe can cast a vision and know they can achieve it. Working with our British partners, we will chart a greater path towards success and opportunity and create an even more robust economic partnership.

    Paxman Coolers Chief Executive Officer Richard Paxman said:

    We are thrilled to hear that the UK and Texas have signed a SMC to enhance trade and economic development ties. We have been working in Texas since 2013, setting up our US HQ in Houston in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. This dynamic state is one of our largest US markets, representing 20% of our $10m business.

    Concrete Canvas Director William Crawford said:

    As a UK business with our US Headquarters in Houston, we are delighted with the news that the UK-Texas SMC has been signed. This will help to strengthen ties with this key US state and help Concrete Canvas achieve our ambitions for further growth and investment across the US.

    UK companies are already making use of close UK-US trading ties, thanks to MoUs already signed. For example, leading innovator in surgical training technologies Merseyside-based Inovus Medical launched their US HQ in Tampa Bay in December 2023 – just one month after signature of the UK-Florida MoU. By choosing Florida as its US base in light of its robust healthcare ecosystem and thriving innovation and technology status, Innovus Medical has seen significant growth in the US.

    Read the text of the UK and Texas trade and economic statement of mutual cooperation.

    Background

    • The SMC will drive cooperation in a wide range of areas of opportunity and future growth, such as aerospace, advanced technologies, supply chains and critical minerals, infrastructure, transport services, and chemicals.
    • The UK is in active discussions to conclude MoUs with further states, including California, Colorado, and Illinois.
    • The US is the UK’s largest trading partner and the biggest investor in the UK. To increase trade with the US, the UK has a “twin-track” approach, working with individual states to boost trade, including through trade and economic arrangements, while also engaging with the federal government to unlock opportunities at a national level.
    • On 8 June the Prime Minister and President Biden announced the Atlantic Declaration – a first-of-its-kind action plan covering our economic, technological, commercial and trade relations. As part of that we agreed to explore ways to grow trade between the UK and the US, already worth £315 billion, and to launch talks on a Critical Minerals Agreement, supporting a strategically important sector of the UK economy.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55: Statement on Human Rights Defenders [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55: Statement on Human Rights Defenders [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 March 2024.

    Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. UK statement at HRC55.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report, and fully supports meaningful participation of child and youth human rights defenders at the UN.

    Child and youth human rights defenders are increasingly at the forefront of movements that bring about positive change. Their expertise and representation of marginalised groups should enrich decision-making and improve accountability. Sadly, that role is not recognised by all, and alongside the risks faced by all human rights defenders, they must contend with age-related discrimination in various forms.

    Improvement in monitoring is required to ensure violence against child and youth human rights defenders is recorded and can be used to facilitate justice and accountability.

    As part of our support for civil society and human rights defenders in crisis, we have recently made a new £1 million financial commitment to the Lifeline fund which supports Civil Society Organizations and human rights defenders which are under threat due to their vital work. We are co-chairing Lifeline this year as part of our commitment to supporting organisations under threat of reprisal for their work in advancing rights, freedoms and democratic values.

    Mr. Vice-President, how can the United Nations systematically involve child and youth human rights defenders in UN decision-making processes that affect them?

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Countering Terrorism [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Countering Terrorism [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 March 2024.

    Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. UK statement at HRC55.

    Thank you, Madame Vice-President.

    I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his work and reaffirm our support for his mandate.

    The UK strongly believes that to be truly effective and sustainable, our Counter Terrorism and Counter Violent Extremism efforts must respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Failing to do so risks exacerbating the conditions conducive to terrorism, and undermining the very values that the UN was established to promote.

    We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s undertaking to consider the impact of new technologies in countering terrorism. We reaffirm that all measures to deliver security must conform with international human rights law.

    Furthermore, we highlight your recommendations that the United Nations counter-terrorism bodies engage with diverse civil society organisations, and your efforts to maintain focus on the impact that counter-terrorism and violent extremism measures have on a civic space.

    Special Rapporteur,

    What more could be done by States to assess the human rights implications of new technologies on counter-terrorism and counter violent extremism efforts?

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New government-backed nature funding platform sees first corporate donations in major step for green finance [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New government-backed nature funding platform sees first corporate donations in major step for green finance [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 March 2024.

    Lloyds Banking Group provides £250,000 funding to three nature restoration projects in England through the ‘Projects for Nature online’ platform.

    • The Government publishes an update on progress under its Nature Markets Framework, setting out action taken and next steps for boosting private finance into ecosystem services in England
    • Announcement comes ahead of the launch of the British Standards Institution’s consultation on their first Nature Investment Standard, setting overarching principles for UK nature markets

    Private sector funding for nature recovery projects took a major step forward today with Lloyds Banking Group becoming the first organisation to provide funding through the government-developed Projects for Nature platform.

    The pioneering online platform has been developed as part of an effort to boost corporate donations from the private sector to create bigger, better, and more joined-up spaces for nature.

    Projects for Nature connects businesses and other donors with 25 nature recovery projects across England. Projects on the platform are screened by Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency, helping to ensure that funding aligns with national and local environmental priorities.

    The three projects receiving the £250,000 funding from Lloyds Banking Group through Projects for Nature are:

    • Weald to Waves: A project to create a 100-mile nature recovery corridor, connecting over 20,000ha of habitats along 3 main rivers in Sussex to the coast; helping to boost biodiversity, reduce flooding, capture carbon and enhance the rural economy. The land-manager led project aims to offer a blueprint for nature recovery across built-up landscapes.
    • Resilient Glenderamackin: One of the largest of its kind, this catchment-based project in Cumbria aims to deliver nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk, restore nature and mitigate climate change. Led by the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, the project will be co-designed with over 40 farmers and land managers to ensure the natural flood management interventions – which include re-wiggling rivers, planting trees and restoring wetlands – work for their businesses, which stretch across 11,000 ha.
    • Peak District – Nature Recovery at Dalehead: The National Trust are working with partners and tenant farmers in the High Peak to manage the land in their care for nature, climate, and people. The funding announced today will support the restoration of 2.6km of wetland on a site nestled between the iconic landmarks of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout. It will also enable expansion of the Peak Regenerative Farmers initiative, which includes events, workshops, training and peer-to-peer support to support sustainable businesses that produce quality food alongside nature-friendly farming practices.

    Green Finance Minister Lord Benyon, speaking at the Natural Capital Conference, said:

    “Nature underpins the economy and is now a key part of the decisions being taken in boardrooms across the world.

    “Private finance accounts for one sixth of the money going into nature at present, with public funds covering the rest. At today’s conference I set out how the Government wants to see a massive increase.

    “Under the Green Finance Strategy and Nature Markets Framework this Government set out the vision for scaling up private investment into nature recovery, and today’s update sets out our aim to make nature markets bigger and better through robust market rules and infrastructure.”

    Alan Law, Chief Officer for Strategy at Natural England said:

    “All industries and sections of society think about the ways that they can contribute to protecting our natural environment if we are to put nature on the road to recovery. Successful collaboration is key and this is a great example. Work on frameworks and standards is essential if we are to join up the contributions from many initiatives into something that is coherent and lasting.

    “Projects for Nature is a flagship pathway for the private sector to support meaningful nature restoration projects, offering a reliable platform to businesses looking for a way to do their bit for nature. At Natural England, we’re delighted to see today’s funding announcement from Lloyds Banking Group which will restore the natural world, create habitats for our precious species and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

    Neil Davies, Director of Sustainability, Funding and Service Operations at the Environment Agency said:

    “Today’s announcement shows that there is real appetite amongst businesses to support nature recovery, and shows how this can translate into action to benefit our natural environment.

    “We at the Environment Agency are pleased to play a role in making this possible through the Projects for Nature platform and we will continue to work with Defra and Natural England to connect businesses who want to show leadership on nature protection with the projects which can help them have the greatest possible impact.”

     Andrew Walton, Chief Sustainability Officer at Lloyds Banking Group said:

    “The UK ranks among the most nature-depleted countries globally, highlighting the pressing need for collective action. As the UK’s largest financial services provider, we recognise the crucial role we must play in tackling the loss of nature to ensure a more resilient and thriving natural environment for the future.

    “Becoming a founding partner of Projects for Nature will enable us to make a tangible difference to combating nature loss in communities across England, exploring innovative approaches to protect and restore our natural ecosystems, ultimately helping Britain prosper.”

    Projects for Nature is part of a much broader government effort to stimulate private funding for nature.

    The Nature Markets Framework, published one year ago set out the government’s approach and vision for scaling up private investment into nature recovery,  the ecosystem market, and sustainable farming. Today, an update on progress under the Framework sets out action taken over the past year and next steps in an effort to close the nature funding gap in England through accelerating the development of efficient, high integrity nature markets.

    The British Standards Institution (BSI) is also expected to publish the first iteration of the Overarching Principles Standard later this month. This is the first in a suite of nature investment standards produced by the BSI and will be vital to drive out greenwash and give clarity to all nature market participants – buyers, sellers, investors and intermediaries – enabling investment in a wide range of habitats and ecosystem services.

    This comes as part of the BSI Nature Investment Standards (BSI) Programme, through which Defra and the BSI have been working with businesses, public bodies, land management, environmental and financial stakeholders to inform the development of standards.

    The announcements set out today will help the government to reach its goal to grow annual private investment flows to nature to at least £500 million every year by 2027 in England, rising to more than £1 billion by 2030.

    Notes to the editors

    • To read the Nature Markets Framework progress update, visit: Nature Markets Framework progress update March 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
    • Later this year, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will launch a public consultation with support from Defra and Treasury in the coming months. This consultation will build the case for how the government can further support the growth of high-integrity, voluntary carbon and nature markets and to protect against greenwashing.
    • Projects for Nature is an online platform, which matches corporate donations to nature recovery projects, screened by Defra, Natural England and Environment Agency to ensure projects align with the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). Launched at COP28 by the Secretary of State, the initiative established a pioneering partnership with the Council for Sustainable Business, Crowdfunder, and Accenture – bringing together government, expert bodies, NGOs, businesses, and the public to fund nature. A diverse portfolio of 25 projects has been selected for the first phase, with diversity in scale, desired outcomes, and geographic spread across England—as well as a variety of societal benefits. Businesses on the platform are screened to confirm they are already taking action to avoid and reduce their own environmental impacts, as a prerequisite for their funding of Projects for Nature. Projects on the platform cannot be used as offsets.
    • Nature Markets Framework sets out how government will guide and support the development of nature markets capable of supporting elevated investment levels. It also outlines the government’s vision to hardwire integrity and principles into the market framework to build trust and confidence so markets can grow at pace in line with our increased environmental ambition.
    • BSI Nature Investment Standards (BSI) Programme is sponsored by Defra, and was launched in March 2023.  Further information on the programme and to feed into live consultations go here: BSI Nature Investment Standards Hub.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State visits United States ahead of annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State visits United States ahead of annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 12 March 2024.

    Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, is visiting Washington D.C. and New York ahead of the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

    While there, the Secretary of State will conduct routine meetings with a number of US figures, and update them on the current political situation now that the Assembly and Executive are fully functioning.

    He will also engage with several business organisations and promote Northern Ireland as a fantastic place to live, work and invest, highlighting the thriving creative industries and innovative spirit within Northern Ireland that global investors witnessed at last year’s Investment Summit.

    The celebrations cover a number of days with events in both locations and will provide an opportunity to further build and expand on the US-UK relationship as well as capitalise on the momentum of the Secretary of State’s visit to Washington at the end of January.

    Before departing for the United States, the Secretary of State said:

    “I am absolutely thrilled to represent the UK Government in the United States this week as we begin the celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day.

    “The UK and US do more together than any other two countries in the world. The special relationship is highly valued by this Government and we continue to appreciate the strong relationships we’ve formed from leader level down.

    “I look forward to meeting with US representatives and business organisations to update them on the monumental achievement of the return of power sharing in Northern Ireland and to highlight the fantastic investment opportunities waiting to be seized.”