Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 December 2023.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East are travelling to Jordan and Egypt this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

• the Foreign Secretary will travel to Jordan and Egypt on his second visit to the region, alongside the Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad
• David Cameron to discuss the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire involving the release of hostages and an end to rocket fire into Israel
• he will visit Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border to see first-hand the lifesaving UK aid which is being sent to Gaza

The Foreign Secretary will travel to the Middle East this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and for further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

In talks with leaders in Jordan and Egypt, key neighbouring countries, he will progress efforts to secure the release of all hostages, step up aid to Gaza and end Hamas rocket attacks and threats against Israel.

He will reiterate the UK’s position that leaving Hamas in power in Gaza will be a roadblock to reaching a long-term political solution to the crisis which delivers security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

This week I am making my second visit to the region to press the case for getting aid in to Gaza and the remaining hostages to be released.

On aid, I will be seeking to build on Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom crossing to ensure significantly more aid and fuel can reach Gaza, through as many routes as possible.

No one wants to see this conflict go on for a moment longer than necessary. But for a ceasefire to work, it needs to be sustainable.

If Israel is still facing Hamas in Gaza with rockets and terror tactics, not only will a ceasefire not be sustainable, a two state solution in the longer term will also not be possible.

In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Safadi and visit the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation, which has become the focal point of Jordanian humanitarian support for Gaza.

In Egypt, the Foreign Secretary will see first-hand the impact of UK aid on a visit to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border. He will hear from the Egyptian Red Crescent about the impact the UK’s lifesaving aid deliveries such as wound care packs are having in Gaza. He will see how the Egyptian Red Crescent are using UK Aid forklift trucks and lighting towers to support delivery of the international aid effort. He is also expected to meet President Sisi and Foreign Minister Shoukry.

The Foreign Secretary will welcome Israel’s decision to open the aid crossing at Kerem Shalom, following intense lobbying by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, as a vital step towards significantly increasing the amount of aid and fuel which reaches Gaza.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 December 2023.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Tom Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

Thank you, President, let me join others in thanking SRSG Otunbayeva, and our other briefers for their important remarks today.

President, the United Kingdom remains gravely concerned at the continued curtailment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls. This, along with ongoing reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, is in clear violation of the international commitments that all states must adhere to.

We echo UNAMA’s recommendation that the international community should maintain its multilateral advocacy on women’s rights and gender equality. The UK is, of course, a firm supporter of these values and we will continue to raise them at every opportunity.
Since UNAMA’s last briefing to the Council, Herat was struck by successive devastating earthquakes. In response, the UK has provided around $4 million dollars in emergency support to those affected, including a further $13 million to support Afghans across the country during the winter months.

We have also committed $23.5 million dollars to the International Organisation for Migration to support vulnerable undocumented Afghans returning to the country.

President, it’s been over two years now since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. As the independent assessment in Afghanistan concluded, our shared goal should be an Afghanistan that is at peace with its people, its neighbours, and the international community. It’s our view that the independent assessment outlines the architecture and mechanisms that are needed to achieve this.

For our part, the United Kingdom is fully committed to finding a constructive way forward. In the absence of a coherent international strategy to date, it is the responsibility of this Council to seize the momentum provided by this report.

We look forward to continuing to work constructively with international partners and the full range of Afghan stakeholders in our shared endeavour towards improving the lives of all Afghans.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 December 2023.

Statement by Mungo Woodifield, UK Spokesperson to the UN, at the UN Security Council Arria Meeting on artificial intelligence.

I join others in thanking the UAE and Albania for convening this meeting, and the briefers for their expert insights. Indeed, the impact of artificial intelligence on mis and disinformation was a common concern when the Security Council held its first meeting on the opportunities and risks of AI to international peace and security, during our Presidency in July. So, we welcome further discussion on this topic today, along with the ongoing work of the Department of Global Communications to establish a Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms to guide and support national responses to mis and disinformation.

Disinformation is a familiar topic to the Security Council, from its impact, as the Under-Secretary-General said, on UN peacekeeping operations, to its role in exacerbating conflict. However, as others have noted, advances in AI technologies make it easier, quicker and cheaper for malign actors to spread false information in hundreds of languages. And this creates potentially harmful consequences for public trust in information and institutions and poses grave risks to stability.

With the rapid pace of technological development and billions expected to vote next year in elections around the world, understanding the risks that advances in AI-generated disinformation poses to inclusive and peaceful societies is critical.

We should ensure the right behaviours and response levers exist across government, industry, and the general public to address these risks. The UK continues to promote the design, development, and use of technology in a way that adheres to the following four principles:

Open – supporting personal freedoms and democracy. Responsible – consistent with the rule of law and human rights, and supporting sustainable growth. As well as ensuring data is used responsibly in a way that is lawful, protected, ethical and accountable. Secure – with security, safety and predictability built in by design. And finally, resilient- being reliable and trusted by the public.

AI risks are not limited to national boundaries of course, they are global and affect us all. Managing these risks requires concerted international action involving all actors, states, international institutions, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

At the first global summit on AI Safety in the UK in November, States recognised an urgent need to address concerns around AI’s ability to manipulate or generate deceptive content.

We must continue to work together in an inclusive manner to ensure that human-centric, trustworthy, and responsible AI is developed that is safe and supports the good of all.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 December 2023.

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

Thank you President, and thank you ASG Khiari for your briefing. Colleagues, we are unfortunately gathered here once again to discuss the DPRK’s latest violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the DPRK’s launch of yet another inter-continental ballistic missile on 18 December and the launch of a short-range ballistic missile a day prior.

This is the DPRK’s thirty-first ballistic missile launch this year. It is the fifth launch of an ICBM in 2023 – the most in any given year – and the third launch using solid fuel, demonstrating the DPRK’s desire to test its advanced capabilities.

It is the latest in a series of the DPRK’s blatant acts of defiance of this Council’s decisions – a clear and worrying pattern of escalation since the start of this year.

The DPRK’s actions violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The international community must be firm and united in our response to these violations.

And yet the DPRK continues to be shielded by two Council members, further emboldening its unlawful behaviour. This cannot become the status quo.

All UN Member States must respect and implement all relevant Security Council resolutions, including with regards to the transfer of technology to and from the DPRK.

We also call on the DPRK to, first, abandon its illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes, which are impoverishing its own people and destabilising the wider region.

Second, to refrain from further provocations and return to compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Third, to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

And finally President, to take up repeated and unconditional offers of dialogue. Diplomacy is the only viable option to making progress towards a sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 December 2023.

Statement delivered on 13 December by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, at a High-Level Event at the Global Refugee Forum.

Good afternoon everyone.

Standing up for the rights of women and girls and ending gender-based violence are urgent priorities for the UK.

These aims are clear across the UK’s newly launched Roadmap for International Development.

Yet, at the halfway point for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the world is significantly off-track to meet the target of eliminating violence against women and girls by 2030.

For refugee and displaced populations in complex crises, the trajectories are even worse.

An estimated 70% of women and girls in conflict settings experience gender-based violence.

But all hope is not lost and we are committed to doing more.

One of our priorities must be to work towards incorporating refugees into national prevention and response systems for gender-based violence.

For example, in Jordan, the UK is supporting the Jordan Protection Programme, which aims to embed a sustainable model of supporting survivors within the national system.

Refugee women-led organisations – headed, I know, by many of you here today – are critical to this work.

The results of the UK’s recent research show the impact you have across critical roles ranging from providing front-line GBV services, promoting gender equality and making women and girls more resilient.

This research also highlighted the scale of challenges you face, including many of the barriers we have heard about today.

Receiving limited funding, failing to get official recognition, and struggling to be heard – even when decisions affect you directly.

And if that was not enough, you provide the most immediate services to those at risk but on a voluntary basis, denied the recognition and legal registration that would provide access to funding and support.

This cannot be right.

Failing to amplify your voices is one reason why violence against refugee women and girls is still not high enough up the political agenda.

It remains the silent pandemic.

This has to change.

First and foremost, we need to listen to those directly impacted by violence and discrimination, and amplify the voices of refugee women-led organisations.

Including those representing young people, people with disabilities, LGBT+ people, and survivors of violence.

We are committed to making these changes with our partners. Our delegation here includes two representatives from refugee women-led organisations.

And we are co-sponsoring the Call to Action + pledge on gender equality and protection from GBV, along with Germany, Chile, and Australia.

I am delighted to announce today that the UK is pledging £2m to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women’s special window on crises.

We have supported them for many years and wholeheartedly back their approach of supporting grassroots organisations to tackle gender-based violence.

Through this special window on crises, the Trust Fund will scale up efforts to empower and resource refugee and women-led organisations working during crises.

Of course, we cannot do this alone, and we are delighted to be working together with partners such as Sweden.

As we know, working with women’s rights organisations is essential to all of our efforts. They are pivotal in our fight to protect the human rights, dignity, and freedoms of women and girls around the world.

New contributions to the UN Trust Fund will complement our broader work with them. For example, our partnership with the Global Survivors Fund.

We are creating projects with Syrian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Turkey, providing livelihood, medical, and legal support.

Finally, I will end by emphasising that we must work together to create a stronger international system which can channel more support, funding, and leadership to the refugee women-led organisations.

That is how we can continue to make a difference on the ground.

I look forward to working together towards a world where no women live in fear of violence.

Thank you.