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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK hosts world leaders for first Global Fraud Summit [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK hosts world leaders for first Global Fraud Summit [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 March 2024.

    The first Global Fraud Summit, hosted by the Home Secretary, begins in London today. Ministers from the G7, Five Eyes, Singapore and South Korea are attending.

    International ministers are set to agree new action to take down fraudsters as the first ever Global Fraud Summit begins today.

    Home Secretary James Cleverly will discuss the threats posed by organised crime groups, and how global law enforcement can tackle it, during a series of meetings with senior ministers and representatives from the G7, Five Eyes, Singapore and South Korea, at Lancaster House.

    Ministers will explore how closer partnerships with the private sector can be used to counter criminality and reimburse victims of crime.

    The need for a bolstered law enforcement response is clear, with a forthcoming Interpol threat assessment expected to show a concerning rise in fraud in all corners of the globe.

    Senior leaders from the world’s biggest companies will also be in attendance, to explore further ways of collaboration with the private sector.

    Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

    This summit delivers on yet another pledge we made to the British people in our Fraud Strategy and is a clear sign of the UK’s status as a world leader.

    Fraudsters have no regard for boundaries, they devastate citizens in all our countries. We will only put a stop to this scourge if we fight it head on together, and that’s precisely what we plan to do.

    Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

    Fraud ruins lives. Con artists and thieves are a threat to hard-working families across the country.

    The action we’ve taken has already reduced fraud by 13% in England and Wales. However, the majority of frauds originate from overseas, and many are linked to international crime groups.

    That’s why we’re hosting the first ever global fraud summit. To lead the international response. And to help bring the global community into this global fight.

    Fraud is a global problem, with around 70% of all offences in the UK having ties to overseas criminals, with £3 billion lost to overseas accounts last year. Reversing this trend is not possible without a united global community.

    Interpol’s latest report shows fraud is often perpetrated by organised criminal groups, including human traffickers, who force people to work in scam centres which target potential victims of fraud across the world.

    A key aim of the summit is to increase partnership work between law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency, the FBI, Interpol, Europol and the Japan National Police Agency. Sharing more intelligence, expertise and resources will help turn the tide against fraudsters.

    Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

    Changes in technology and the rapid increase in the scale and volume of organized crime has driven the creation of a range of new ways to defraud innocent people, business and even governments. Urgent action is required.

    It is important that there are no safe havens for financial fraudsters to operate. We must close existing gaps and ensure information sharing between sectors and across borders is the norm, not the exception. This summit is both timely, and needed.

    Attending nations will not be starting from zero.

    In 2022, UK law enforcement agencies worked with international partners, including the FBI, and Europol, to take down an online service known as iSpoof. The website was used to make more than 10 million fraudulent phone calls. Its administrator was jailed for more than 13 years.

    The UK, United States and Canada also issued a joint sanctions package against human rights abusers who were forcing trafficked people to work at scam farms in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, in December 2023.

    Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Crime Agency, said:

    Over 70% of fraud has an international element, and it is clear that we need an efficient and effective joint response with partners across the globe.

    The Global Fraud Summit is an important step forward, bringing together colleagues from the public and private sectors to tackle this persistent and pervasive threat.

    It is a priority for the National Crime Agency to reduce the harm that fraud causes, and it is events like this that will help us make an impact at scale.

    Temporary Commissioner Peter O’Doherty, from the City of London Police, said:

    Fraud is a global threat, requiring a global response from senior leaders from around the world, including law enforcement agencies and industry partners, working together to effectively tackle the ever-growing threat to all our populations.

    As the national lead force for fraud in the UK, we work in partnership with international law enforcement agencies to pursue those who seek to defraud the public.  Fraudsters don’t recognise international boundaries and nor should we. This summit is an important opportunity to further build our overseas partnerships.

    Industry collaboration to prevent fraud will also be a key focus, which is why senior figures from the world’s biggest companies will also be in attendance. This provides a unique opportunity for international lawmakers to engage with private sector in one place.

    The summit will encourage greater collaboration between government and industry to tackle fraud.

    The UK is spearheading collaboration with the private sector, as shown by the world-first Online Fraud Charter, a voluntary agreement the UK agreed with 12 leading tech companies in November 2023. It includes measures to verify sellers on peer-to-peer marketplaces, promptly remove fraudulent advertising and allow people using online dating services to only interact with people who have confirmed their identities.

    Partner countries agreeing similar charters will severely hinder fraudsters, who rely upon new technologies to commit fraud.

    The UK will also raise the prospect of creating a mechanism to repatriate funds that are lost overseas due to fraud.

    Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK said:

    The Global Fraud Summit will provide tech companies with the platform to build upon their existing efforts and enable better and more consistent cooperation between the private sector, government, and law enforcement in the fight against fraud and online scams.

    As the nature of online fraud continues to evolve, tech companies remain committed to taking measures against online fraud, adapting their approaches to effectively counter this criminal activity and protect users.

    David Postings, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said:

    Fraud is a global problem and we know the devastating impact it has on people. The UK and its financial services sector are at the forefront of efforts to tackle this criminal activity.

    We’re delighted to be part of the UK government’s international summit and will continue working to stop fraud from happening in the first place.

    It is anticipated all attending nations will agree a communique, pledging more combined action to fight fraud.

    Day 2 of the summit will consist entirely of working level meetings between the private sector, civil society and senior civil servants from across the world.

    Attending overseas ministers are:

    • Stephen Jones, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Australia
    • Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Canada
    • Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, Secretary of State for Citizenship, France
    • Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior and Community, Germany
    • Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of the Interior, Italy
    • Yoshinobu Kusunoki, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Japan
    • Casey Costello, Minister for Customs, Seniors, New Zealand
    • Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, Singapore
    • Lee Sang-Min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, South Korea
    • Arun G. Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, United States
    • Kelli Ann Burriesci, Deputy Under Secretary for Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, Department for Homeland Security, United States
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK supports millions of people globally in bid to end gender-based violence [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK supports millions of people globally in bid to end gender-based violence [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 March 2024.

    UK support has reached over 4 million people over 2 years, helping tackle domestic abuse, child marriage and female genital mutilation, and support survivors of violence.

    • first ever results of their kind show the scale of the UK’s work to prevent and respond to this issue around the world, including in Bangladesh, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Syria
    • Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Ahmad, visits United Nations for the UN Commission on the Status of Women to call on partners to protect and promote the rights of every woman and girl

    New figures on the UK’s support to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) show how this funding has transformed the lives of over 4 million of the world’s most vulnerable people.

    Gender-based violence is a systematic, pervasive, human rights abuse. It threatens the lives and wellbeing of women and girls, and prevents them from accessing opportunities for education, employment and healthcare. However, it is preventable.

    Between April 2021 and March 2023, the UK has provided 4.2 million people across the globe with gender-based violence prevention or response services.

    The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron said:

    The UK is determined to work with our partners to resist the rollback of rights we are seeing around the world.

    Gender-based violence is holding back women and girls, but things can and must change. The UK’s approaches have shown reductions in violence of up to 50% in some countries.

    By investing in sexual and reproductive health services, and reaching millions of girls with services to end devastating practices like Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage, we are proud to help women and girls to reach their full potential.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth, and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) said:

    I’m honoured to be at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, joining the global conversation on reforming the humanitarian system to protect women and girls against gender-based violence. This is a critical issue that affects millions – a violation of human rights that demands a united front.

    I am proud that the UK has reached over 4 million people, including survivors, with vital support, but our work doesn’t stop here. We are committed to this collective effort for a future free from gender-based violence.

    Examples of the UK’s work include:

    • working in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund to help over 1 million Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh by providing 56 safe spaces that ensure the rights, health and safety of women. These spaces have helped provide access for sexual and reproductive health services, including psychosocial support, family planning, and support for survivors of rape. The UK has also supported community leaders and women-led organisations with prevention activities including skill training, campaigning, and male engagement initiatives to shift attitudes and stop stigma
    • addressing intimate partner violence, which is the most prevalent form of violence against women globally. The Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation (SAFE) Programme in Zimbabwe which is working with couples and communities to prevent violence against women and girls, particularly those most at risk. It focuses on addressing economic insecurity and discriminatory attitudes that drive violence
    • preventing gender-based violence in a crisis, as an estimated 20 to 30% of women and girls experience non-partner sexual violence in conflicts. Through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative, we have helped Sisma Mujer, a women’s rights organisation in Colombia to provide legal support to survivors of sexual violence
    • the UK is investing £35 million in the Africa-Led Movement to end femail genital mutilation (FGM) (2019 to 2027) –  Phase II of FCDO’s flagship ending FGM programme in Kenya, Senegal Ethiopia and Somaliland to support activists and grassroots African organisations who are leading change from within their communities
    • supporting women’s rights organisations and survivor-led organisations including through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Girls which partners with grassroots organisations, and the Africa-Led Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation Programme, which is supporting activists to drive change from within their communities

    The new results come as Lord Ahmad, Minister for the United Nations today (March 11) attends the United Nations Commission for Status of Women (CSW) – the biggest multilateral forum on women and girls’ rights to discuss how to accelerate progress towards gender-equality.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New action to tackle ethnic and other biases in medical devices [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New action to tackle ethnic and other biases in medical devices [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 March 2024.

    Government outlines action to make UK a world leader in tackling ethnic and other biases in medical devices.

    • Plan comes in response to independent report identifying the extent and impact of ethnic and other biases in the design and use of medical devices
    • It is part of ongoing work to tackle disparities within the healthcare system, which includes addressing issues from the design stage and extra funding for applications for new devices that work without bias

    The government has today announced action to tackle potential bias in the design and use of medical devices, as it accepts recommendations from a UK-first independent review into equity in medical devices.

    The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned senior health experts to identify potential biases in these devices and recommend how to tackle them.

    The government fully accepted the report’s conclusions and has made a series of commitments, including ensuring that pulse oximeter devices used in the NHS can be used safely across a range of skin tones, and removing racial bias from data sets used in clinical studies.

    Minister of State, Andrew Stephenson, said:

    I am hugely grateful to Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead for carrying out this important review.

    Making sure the healthcare system works for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, is paramount to our values as a nation. It supports our wider work to create a fairer and simpler NHS.

    Ministers agree that unless appropriate action is taken, ethnic and other unfair biases can occur throughout the medical device life cycle, from research, development and testing, to approval, deployment and post-market monitoring, as well as in the use of devices once deployed.

    As a result, significant action is already being taken to overcome potential disparities in the performance of medical devices. This includes:

    • the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) now requests that approval applications for new medical devices describe how they will address bias
    • NHS guidance has been updated to highlight potential limitations of pulse oximeter devices on patients with darker skin tone
    • the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is currently accepting funding applications for research into smarter oximeters

    The government will also:

    • work with MHRA to ensure regulations for medical devices are safe for patients, regardless of their background, while allowing more innovative products to be placed on the UK market. This includes a commitment to ensure pulse oximeters are safe and effective for all patients, with work underway to mitigate any inaccuracy in the devices
    • drive forward work to remove racial bias in datasets, including ensuring diverse skin tones are included in data used by researchers for clinical studies
    • support ongoing work with NHS England to upskill clinical professionals on issues including health equity
    • work with partners to improve transparency of data used in the development of medical devices using artificial intelligence (AI), as well as AI products which influence clinical decisions

    The government appointed Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, professor of public health at the University of Liverpool, to lead the review. Professor Whitehead has vast experience in tackling health inequalities, and for many years has led the work of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Policy Research on the Determinants of Health Equity.

    The review followed concerns that pulse oximeters – widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor blood oxygen levels – were not as accurate for patients with darker skin tones, which could have led to delays in treatment if dangerously low oxygen levels in patients with darker skin tone were missed. However, the review found no evidence from studies in the NHS of this differential performance affecting care.

    The medical devices review focused on 3 areas – optical devices such as pulse oximeters, AI-enabled devices and polygenic risk scores (PRS) in genomics.

    Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, chair of the review, said:

    The advance of AI in medical devices could bring great benefits, but it could also bring harm through inherent bias against certain groups in the population, notably women, people from ethnic minorities and disadvantaged socio-economic groups.

    Our review reveals how existing biases and injustices in society can unwittingly be incorporated at every stage of the lifecycle of AI-enabled medical devices, and then magnified in algorithm development and machine learning.

    Our recommendations therefore call for system-wide action, requiring full government support. The UK would take the lead internationally if it incorporated equity in AI-enabled medical devices into its global AI safety initiatives.

    The review also recommended ways of developing bias-free medical devices in the future and to improve standards globally.

    Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said:

    MHRA acknowledges that inequities can exist within medical devices and we therefore welcome the publication of Dame Whitehead’s independent review.

    We are highly committed to ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and high-quality medical devices for all individuals, and the recommendations set out in this report will support and strengthen the impact of our ongoing work in this area.

    We are committed to working collaboratively with government, regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals and stakeholders to address these issues effectively.

    Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities, said:

    Ensuring all patients get equitable access to high-quality healthcare remains crucial to reducing health inequalities and a priority for the NHS.

    I welcome the report’s findings and the NHS will work alongside government and MHRA to implement them and ensure NHS staff have the resources and training they need to tackle racial bias.

    There is ongoing work to ensure healthcare is equitable. In recent years, the government has created schemes providing targeted support for the cost of living and the COVID-19 pandemic and established the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), a government unit dedicated to reducing negative health disparities across the country.

    We have:

  • PRESS RELEASE : £35 million investment to boost maternity safety [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £35 million investment to boost maternity safety [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social on 10 March 2024.

    The investment will be provided over the next 3 years to ensure maternity services listen to and act on women’s experiences.

    • £35 million investment to fund specialist training for staff and additional midwives to improve maternity services
    • £9 million dedicated to prevent avoidable brain injuries in childbirth
    • women’s voices and experiences to be prioritised with funding allocated to improve care

    Almost £35 million will be invested to improve maternity safety across England with the recruitment of additional midwives and the expansion of specialist training to thousands of extra healthcare workers.

    The investment, which was announced as part of the Spring Budget 2024, will be provided over the next 3 years to ensure maternity services listen to and act on women’s experiences to improve care.

    The funding includes:

    • £9 million for the rollout of the reducing brain injury programme across maternity units in England, to provide healthcare workers with the tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth
    • investment in training to ensure the NHS workforce has the skills needed to provide ever safer maternity care. An additional 6,000 clinical staff will be trained in neonatal resuscitation and we will almost double the number of clinical staff receiving specialist training in obstetric medicine in England
    • increasing the number of midwives by funding 160 new posts over 3 years to support the growth of the maternity and neonatal workforce
    • funding to support the rollout of maternity and neonatal voice partnerships to improve how women’s experiences and views are listened to and acted on to improve care

    Ahead of Mother’s Day, the Health and Social Care Secretary visited Cambridge University Hospital. She spoke with health experts from the hospital and microbiology faculty about a range of women’s health issues, including maternity care and breast cancer.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

    I want every mother to feel safe when giving birth to their baby.

    Improving maternity care is a key cornerstone of our Women’s Health Strategy and with this investment we are delivering on that priority – more midwives, specialist training in obstetric medicine and pushing to improve how women are listened to in our healthcare system.

    £35 million is going directly to improving the safety and care in our maternity wards and will move us closer to our goal of making healthcare faster, simpler and fairer for all.

    This investment follows a recent announcement of a new set of Women’s Health Strategy priorities for 2024, which include:

    • better care for menstrual and gynaecological conditions
    • expanding women’s health hubs to improve women’s access to care
    • tackling disparities and improving support for vulnerable women including victims of sexual abuse and violence
    • bolstering maternity care before, during and after pregnancy by continuing to deliver on NHS England’s 3-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services and focusing on preconception and postnatal care for women, raising awareness of pregnancy sickness and actioning the recommendations set out in the Pregnancy Loss Review
    • investment into more research in women’s health and improving how women are represented in medical research

    Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield, said:

    This extra funding will help clinicians deliver the best care for expecting mothers and improve maternity safety.

    I especially welcome the expansion of posts for midwives, who play a crucial role in delivering babies safely and caring for expectant mother pre- and postnatally.

    Crucially, as part of this investment, we’re also rolling out a training programme to prevent avoidable brain injuries in childbirth.

    As part of the government’s  commitment to action the recommendation of the Pregnancy Loss Review, the baby loss certificate service launched last month to allow parents who experienced a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to apply for a certificate to acknowledge their loss. Since the launch of the service, as of 4 March 2024, the total number of completed requests was 37,268.

    Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Kate Brintworth, said:

    We are focused on ensuring that women receive the safest high-quality care before, during and after their pregnancy.

    The rollout of maternity and neonatal voice partnerships is an important step in improving care by listening to women’s views and experiences and acting upon them.

    Our workforce must also have the right skills for improving maternity safety and this investment helps ensure all those working in maternity services in England have the tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth.

    We will continue our plans to grow the midwifery workforce and nearly double the number of staff who have received specialist training in obstetric medicine in England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New ‘Elizabeth Emblem’ unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in line of duty [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New ‘Elizabeth Emblem’ unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in line of duty [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 9 March 2024.

    Family members of police officers, firefighters and other public servants who have died in public service will be recognised by a new emblem.

    • Police officers, firefighters and other public servants who died in the line of duty will be commemorated with new Elizabeth Emblem
    • National form of recognition conferred by His Majesty The King will be awarded to next of kin
    • Elizabeth Emblem incorporates a rosemary wreath surrounding the Tudor Crown

    Family members of police officers, firefighters and other public servants who have died in public service will be recognised by a new emblem.

    The Elizabeth Emblem, which is conferred by His Majesty The King, is a national form of recognition awarded to the next of kin of police officers, firefighters, and many other public servants.

    The award is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

    The design of the Emblem incorporates a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, which surrounds the Tudor Crown. It is inscribed with ‘For A Life Given In Service’, and will have the name of the person for whom it is in memoriam inscribed on the reverse of the Emblem. It will include a pin to allow the award to be worn on clothing by the next of kin of the deceased.

    The Emblem recognises how the sacrifices made by public servants who have lost their lives as a result of their duty could be recognised within the honours system.

    From today, next of kin of the deceased will be able to apply for the Emblem via gov.uk. Nominations will be reviewed by the George Cross Committee and recommendations then made to His Majesty The King via the Prime Minister.

    Recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem will receive their award from a senior representative such as a Chief Constable, Chief Fire Officer or His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    “We will not forget those who died in our service.

    “The Elizabeth Emblem will bring the nation together to honour the dedication and commitment of these exceptional public servants who have given their lives in service of the United Kingdom.”

    Policing Minister, Chris Philp said:

    “We owe so much to our public servants who make sacrifices every day to keep us safe.

    “The Elizabeth Emblem will recognise those who tragically lost their lives in public service and rightly enshrine them in our country’s history so that their sacrifices are never forgotten.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK repeats its call to Russia to withdraw its troops, cease the bloodshed and end this senseless war – UK statement at the UN Security Council [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK repeats its call to Russia to withdraw its troops, cease the bloodshed and end this senseless war – UK statement at the UN Security Council [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 March 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

    Thank you President and I thank ASG Khiari and Ms Doughten for their briefing today.

    “You see who we are dealing with. They don’t care where to hit”. Words spoken by the President of Ukraine on Wednesday, which could have been spoken on countless occasions during this war.

    We are compelled to gather again to respond to another appalling series of missile attacks on Ukraine.

    On 2 March, 12 civilians, including 5 children, died when debris hit an apartment block in Odesa.One of the victims was a baby, only four months old.

    On 6 March, as President Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis paid their respects to the dead, a further Russian strike hit the city. While they narrowly escaped the impact, five others were not so lucky.

    President, we have met too often in this chamber to address the human suffering Russia has inflicted upon Ukraine. This week it was attacks on residential buildings.

    In other weeks it has been hospitals, schools, train stations, hotels, restaurants. Each time it is innocent Ukrainian civilians who pay the price with their lives.

    The day before this latest strike, the International Criminal Court announced two new indictments of senior Russian military figures for an alleged campaign of strikes against Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure.

    These are not the actions of a country that is interested in peace. Putin claims that he launched this war to “protect” Ukrainian civilians. In fact he is terrorising them.

    Russia’s actions show an utter disregard for international law and the UN Charter. It is attempting to intimidate Ukraine, its people, and those who support Ukraine.

    It will not succeed.

    Russia’s previous attacks on Odesa have utterly failed. Ukraine has now driven back much of the Black Sea Fleet from Crimea, and is exporting the highest volumes from its ports since the war began.

    As my Defence Secretary said in Kyiv yesterday, the UK’s support remains unwavering, and we will provide an additional £325 million to help Ukraine defend itself.

    Ukrainians have shown that they will not be bullied into submission. And Russia should know that the UK stands proudly by their side.

    And so, we repeat our call again to Russia: withdraw your troops, cease the bloodshed and end this senseless war.

    Ukraine deserves a just and lasting peace that respects its territorial integrity. And with our support, that is what Ukraine will achieve.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan in Sudan – UK statement at the UN Security Council [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan in Sudan – UK statement at the UN Security Council [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 March 2024.

    Explanation of Vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

    Thank you, President, with the adoption of this resolution the Council has sent a strong and clear message to the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to agree an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan. This follows the call of the Secretary-General and of the African Union.

    We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to act on this united international call for peace and to silence the guns.  We further urge the warring parties to build trust and seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue.

    President, the situation in Sudan is of grave concern and the humanitarian needs of Sudan’s population are acute. We support the work of UN agencies and civil society organisations in their efforts to support those in need and underline the need for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access.

    We welcome all mediation efforts to help achieve an end to this brutal conflict and further encourage the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra to complement and help coordinate regional efforts.

    President, this Council needs to continue to support efforts for peace in Sudan. We look forward to continuing to work across the UN, the region and Council members towards this goal.

    And in that regard, I thank my colleagues across the Council for their engagement on this resolution.

    Let me express my thanks also to our team and all of the colleagues and experts who agreed this text, thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Senegal Presidential Elections – UK statement [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Senegal Presidential Elections – UK statement [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 March 2024.

    The United Kingdom has made a statement welcoming the announcement of Presidential elections in Senegal.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

    The United Kingdom welcomes the announcement of Presidential elections on 24 March in accordance with the Constitutional Council decisions of 6 and 7 March. In line with Senegal’s strong democratic traditions, we urge all parties to contribute to peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections, to maintain calm and the rule of law, and to respect the fundamental freedoms of the Senegalese people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Family disputes to be resolved faster through extra £170 million investment into the justice system [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Family disputes to be resolved faster through extra £170 million investment into the justice system [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 March 2024.

    Families will benefit from new early legal advice to spare them stress of court.

    • Investment into latest technology to better protect the public
    • Part of digitisation drive to improve efficiency across the justice system

    Thousands of families will be spared the stress of court or obtain speedier justice thanks to £56 million announced in the Spring Budget.

    This will mean families can access early legal advice and resolve their disputes away from the court room, such as agreeing child arrangements, and forms part of a wider £170 million investment into the justice system announced this week.

    At the same time, vulnerable families with serious safeguarding concerns such as domestic abuse and child safety will benefit from the expansion of a new model which will see increased support and a less adversarial approach in the family courts.

    The investment into the justice system will increase the use of new technology and artificial intelligence to boost productivity and deliver better value to the taxpayer.

    This includes streamlining probation processes to bolster public protection and better assess an offender’s risk, as well as a new online system for prison staff to make administrative tasks quicker and easier.

    Increased digitisation will also save significant administrative time across the justice system ensuring frontline staff can better focus on delivering justice and keeping the public safe.

    As part of the package announced this week, £100 million will be invested in measures in prison designed to support rehabilitation and cut crime, such as schemes to help offenders find work on release. The investment will also be used to hire more staff and refurbish the workshops prisoners rely on to learn the skills that will turn them away from crime.

    The Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, said:

    This significant new investment will ensure thousands more families can access the legal advice they need to resolve their disputes as early as possible – without the trauma of courtroom battles.

    It will also allow us to harness new technologies and fund innovative schemes, such a risk profiling for offenders, that will drive down reoffending and keep the public safer, while delivering better value for taxpayers and a more efficient justice system.

    This announcement forms part of plans for government to deliver up to £1.8 billion worth of benefits by 2029 through a total £800 million investment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Torture [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Torture [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 March 2024.

    UK statement for Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Torture. Delivered at the 55th Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    The UK fully supports the Special Rapporteur’s focus on the importance of adequate detention conditions in prisons.

    Detainees must be treated with humanity and dignity – this is a clear obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    With this in mind, we encourage all States to ensure allegations of mistreatment are thoroughly investigated, and to fully comply with their international obligations.

    As reflected in your report, all states must guarantee minimum standards of humane treatment. We share the concerns outlined in your press release of January 2024 that some of the evidence that may be used to prosecute Jimmy Lai was allegedly obtained through torture of Andy Li. No evidence gained via torture can be valid evidence.

    Within the UK, we are taking urgent action to improve prison safety and security. This is alongside wider reforms to overhaul the prison system, focused on the rehabilitation of offenders and delivering safer prisons.

    To help reduce the UK prison populations, we are reforming the licence period for offenders serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence. Reforms include a clear statutory presumption that the licence will be terminated by the Parole Board at the end of the three-year qualifying period.

    Special Rapporteur,

    What best practices to combat overcrowding in prisons have you observed from States?

    Thank you.