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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

I will make three points.

First, as we’ve heard, the impact of those missing in conflict is lasting and devastating with families forced to live without knowledge of the fate of their loved ones.

As we’ve heard, the ICRC registered 56,000 new cases of missing persons in 2024 alone.

The United Kingdom supported the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2474.

This requires parties to armed conflict to help reunite and reconnect separated families, to collect and protect information on missing persons, and to return remains to relatives.

Yet in too many cases these requirements have not been fulfilled.

As Ms Lee made clear, despite decades passing, DPRK has still not shared information about those it abducted with their families.

It is critical that all parties and stakeholders comply with resolution 2474 and IHL provisions, and that the ICRC and relevant actors are granted access to information on persons reported missing and to those detained or taken hostage.

Second, conflicts around the world continue to tear people away from their loved ones.

This includes in Ukraine, where thousands remain missing, including tens of thousands of children forcibly deported to Russia.

In Syria, over 130,000 people remain missing, and we welcome the new Syrian Government’s commitment to establish a national commission to clarify their fate.

Third, I want also to highlight the unimaginable ordeal faced by hostages held by Hamas.

This Council has heard first-hand from former hostages Eli Sharabi and Noa Argamani of the cruel and dehumanising treatment they were subjected to.

Hamas must be held accountable for its despicable actions.

We welcome the release of Edan Alexander who was reunited with his family this week. But as we heard from Ms Chen today, many more families continue to wait in agony.

This also includes the families of Avinatan Or, Yossi Sharabi, and Shay Levinson, who have strong links to the UK.

President, a ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to bring the hostages home, end the suffering of Palestinians and bring us back to much needed peace. Far too many have lost their lives and been torn away from their families.

No-one should have to suffer this fate, whether in Gaza or elsewhere in the world.

It is time for the spirit of SCR 2474 to be realised for the sake of all those who remain missing.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Mr Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG has been appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands and His Majesty’s Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in succession to Ms Alison Blake CMG. Mr Martin-Reynolds will take up his appointment during July 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Colin Martin-Reynolds

Date	Role
2023 to 2025	FCDO, Director, Organisational Improvement
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Director, Covid-19 Inquiry Unit
2019 to 2022	Bogota, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2018	Pre-posting training (including Spanish language training)
2013 to 2018	FCO, Chief Information Officer
2011 to 2013	Brasilia, Deputy Head of Mission
2008 to 2010	FCO, Programme Director, Corporate Services Programme
2004 to 2008	Washington, First Secretary then Counsellor Change Management and Consul-General
2002 to 2004	FCO, Deputy Head, Human Resources Directorate
2001 to 2002	FCO, Team Leader, Southern Africa Section, Africa Directorate
1998 to 2001	FCO, Private Secretary to Minister of State
1997 to 1998	FCO, Political Section, United Nations Department
1995 to 1997	Worldwide, short-term assignments
1994 to 1994	Kyiv, Political Section
1992 to 1994	Nicosia, Political Section
1990 to 1992	FCO, Desk Officer, Migration Department

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Statement by Legal Adviser Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

I will make three points.

First, let me express the UK’s deep concern at the escalation of violence which has occurred in Tripoli over recent days.

This has included the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, resulting in credible reports of civilian casualties.

This most recent escalation underscores the urgent need for a credible, UN-facilitated political process that can deliver lasting peace, stability and security for the Libyan people.

We welcome recent reports that the Libyan parties have agreed on a ceasefire and we urge that it be fully and unconditionally respected.

Secondly, we welcome the continued progress made by the Office of the Prosecutor during this reporting period.

We note, for example, the 20 additional Missions undertaken by the Office of the Prosecutor over recent months and especially welcome the increased engagement with civil society organisations described in the briefing today.

The unsealing of the arrest warrant against Osama Elmasry Njeem represents a further positive step, further strengthening the Office’s work in relation to crimes allegedly committed in detention facilities in Libya.

As mentioned in the briefing today, the national authorities in the UK engaged closely with the Court in relation to this matter, including freezing Mr Njeem’s bank accounts in the United Kingdom.

We were pleased to read in the report of some positive steps taken by the authorities in Libya over recent months. This includes the arrest of a number of perpetrators of crimes allegedly committed in Tarhunah, at least two of whom remain subject to ICC arrest warrants.

However, we also note that the Office of the Prosecutor has requested further assistance, both in order to gain access to investigative files and to assist with the surrender of suspects.

We also warmly welcome the decision just announced by the government of Libya to submit a declaration under Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Rome Statute. This is clearly an important and very positive development.

Mr President, it is clear that cooperation remains key to the Court’s work. It is therefore important that all States fulfil their obligations pursuant to UN Security Council resolution 1970 and the Rome Statute, including in relation to those subject to ICC arrest warrants.

Mr President, let me conclude by reiterating the UK’s strong support for the International Criminal Court and for its independence.

It is important that the Court is able to carry out its mandate free from sanctions or other measures which interfere with the work of the Court or its officials.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes the work of the OSCE Office amid a challenging financial backdrop.

Thank you Mr Chair.

First, I would like to welcome Ambassador Karttunen to the Permanent Council. Thank you to you and your team for your report, and for your informative presentation.

Chair, the United Kingdom has continued to build our relationship with Uzbekistan and is committed to supporting the government in carrying out its wide-ranging reforms. Last year our governments signed a joint declaration covering all aspects of the bilateral relationship, and this year we have signed an agreement on expanding our cooperation on Critical Minerals. We look forward to further cooperation in the coming years.

We welcome the close cooperation between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Project Coordinator and commend the Project Coordinator’s work across the three dimensions.

In the first dimension, we welcome the work the Project Coordinator is doing on border security. We were pleased to be able to support this effort by facilitating training for the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan last year by Surrey Police aimed at strengthening the capacity of Uzbek instructors to effectively use dogs in detecting drugs, cash, and firearms.

In the second dimension, we commend the work of the Project Coordinator on climate change and water management, and we are proud donors to the OSCE project on “strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in Central Asia”. We recognise the particular vulnerabilities Central Asian states have to climate change and its consequences. That is why we are funding a regional programme to improve Central Asia’s resilience and sovereignty by strengthening regional cooperation on water and energy to deliver low carbon and climate resilient growth.

And in the third dimension, we note the positive steps taken – as identified by ODIHR and the RFoM – in the draft information code.  These include a ban on censorship and media monopolisation, and the requirement for free access to and use of information for everyone without discrimination. We encourage the Government of Uzbekistan to address concerns raised about concentrating media regulation under the government rather than an independent regulatory body, and the broad grounds for restricting content and suspending media activities.

In closing, let me thank you Ambassador Karttunen and your dedicated team in Uzbekistan for their efforts in upholding the principles of the OSCE and ensuring your important work continues – particularly in light of the considerable challenges caused by the continued non-agreement of the Unified Budget.

Thank you.