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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Four non-executive members reappointed to the board of the Independent Monitoring Authority [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Four non-executive members reappointed to the board of the Independent Monitoring Authority [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 September 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor has reappointed Ronnie Alexander, Joyce Cullen, Marcus Killick and Leo O’Reilly as non-executive members of the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA).

    The Lord Chancellor has reappointed the following non-executive members, of the IMA:

    • Ronnie Alexander – member with knowledge about conditions in Wales relating to citizens’ rights – from 17 March 2024 until 16 December 2027
    • Joyce Cullen – member with knowledge about conditions in Scotland relating to citizens’ rights – from 10 February 2024 until 9 December 2027
    • Marcus Killick OBE – member with knowledge about conditions in Gibraltar relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026
    • Leo O’Reilly CB – member with knowledge about conditions in Northern Ireland relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026

    The IMA was established under the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (EUWAA). Under the provisions set out in EUWAA, the IMA has the power to receive complaints, launch inquiries and initiate or intervene in legal proceedings. The IMA also has a duty to review the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to citizens’ rights. In exercising its functions, the IMA must have regard to the importance of dealing with general or systemic issues in the implementation and application of citizen’ rights.

    Biographies

    Ronnie Alexander

    Ronnie left the civil service, in 2013, to pursue a variety of other interests; including consultancy. He is currently an Independent Member of Powys Teaching Health Board. In addition, he serves as Independent Chair of the Standards Committees for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and also for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. He has a considerable record of engaging with the public, professionals and politicians at all levels, to influence policy. This follows a civil service career spanning over 20 years and an equivalent period working in local government. Ronnie Alexander has not declared any political activity.

    Joyce Cullen

    Joyce has practised as a litigation solicitor with Brodies LLP for over 40 years and served as Chair of the firm from 2004 to 2013. In 1995, she was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in Scotland. She was Convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s Employment Law Reform Sub-Committee from 2006 to 2018. From 2015 to 2021 she was a Non-executive Director of the Joint Management Board of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland. In 2020, she was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of George Heriot’s School. She was initially appointed and has served as a Non-Executive member of the IMA since 2021. Joyce Cullen has not declared any political activity.

    Marcus Killick

    Marcus is also Chairman of the IMA’s Delivery and Impact Committee and a Member of its Audit Committee. Marcus is qualified as: a Barrister at Law (England and Wales); an Attorney at Law (New York) and; a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment,

    He is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the law firm ISOLAS LLP. From 2003 – 2014, he served as the CEO of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“Commission”).

    During his time at the Commission, he was also Chair of the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors as well as Chair of both the Gibraltar Investors Compensation Scheme Board and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Board. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for services to regulation; particularly in Gibraltar. Marcus Killick has not declared any political activity.

    Leo O’Reilly

    Leo is also Deputy Chair of the IMA. He is a Member of the Senate of Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Council of the Institute of Professional and Legal Studies in Belfast. He is also a Non-Executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee Member of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. He is a former civil servant, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, with over 27 years’ experience as a senior civil servant covering a diverse range of functions and activities across government in both NI and GB. These include over 11 years as the Permanent Secretary of three Northern Ireland departments. Leo O’Reilly has not declared any political activity.

    The appointment of non-executive members of the IMA are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Russia [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Russia [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

    Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Russian Federation. As delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and the UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you Vice President,

    Special Rapporteur,

    Your report visibly demonstrates the rapid increase in repression since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Repression at home, aggression abroad.

    Recent legislation adopted with little public scrutiny has further restricted the fundamental rights that Russians should enjoy under international law.

    Criminal sentences have become harsher and longer. Judges are subject to political influence. Anti-war speech is criminalised.

    More than half of those arrested for anti-war activism are women, and you noted, determined to advocate for peace in the face of gender-based violence and increased restrictions on their roles in public life.

    A prohibitively hostile legal framework makes it almost impossible for non-government controlled media to operate, undermining an essential condition for free and fair elections.

    We once again condemn the politically motivated prosecution of so many who oppose Russia’s illegal invasion, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Alexei Navalny, Ilya Yashin and Maria Ponomarenko. And we will continue to hold those responsible for human rights violations to account through our sanctions.

    Special Rapporteur, given the Russian Government’s failure to engage with your mandate, how can this Council promote the upholding of Russians’ fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Offenders help turn the tide against beach litter [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Offenders help turn the tide against beach litter [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 September 2023.

    Offenders will be put to work to pay back the communities they have harmed as part of a week-long nationwide clean-up of Britain’s coastline.

    • offenders clean up coastline as part of Great British Beach Clean
    • hundreds of offenders carry out hard graft to repay communities
    • part of £93 million worth of extra funding to increase unpaid work hours

    Plastic and litter will be removed by offenders wearing high-visibility jackets emblazoned with “Community Payback” on beaches up-and-down the country, as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean.

    This builds on the government’s commitment to give communities a greater say in how justice is served.

    The Probation Service has partnered with several major organisations with a focus on outdoor unpaid work projects to improve the quality of life of neighbourhoods blighted by anti-social behaviour and allow the public to see justice being done.

    Its work with the Marine Conservation Society will see offenders carry out more than a thousand hours of unpaid work in just ten days in coastal areas including Kent, Northumberland and Norfolk.

    In March, the government published its Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan. Focused on stamping out these crimes, the plan sets out how Community Payback can make offenders pay for their crimes.

    Prisons and Probation Minister, Damian Hinds, visited Hayling Island in Hampshire to see offenders putting in hours of hard graft for the benefit of the local community.

    Prisons and Probation Minister, Damian Hinds, said:

    The government is coming down hard on the anti-social behaviour which makes other people’s lives a misery.

    We want offenders visibly atoning for their crimes in a way which benefits the law-abiding majority and this work also helps protect our beautiful coastline.

    The Marine Conversation Society will log the recovered rubbish and use the data gathered to help them understand the main pollutants and focus their fight to protect the British coastline.

    Jennifer Mitchell, Director of Engagement and Communications at the Marine Conservation Society, said:

    We’re pleased to see offenders making a difference to their communities and environment by contributing to our work.

    Clearing our beaches of litter is not only a great way to give back to society, it also helps us tackle ocean pollution by gathering vital data.

    Information on what is washing up on our beaches, like wet wipes or plastic bottles, is analysed by scientists and helps us campaign for change for cleaner seas and a healthier planet.

    Each year courts hand down more than 50,000 Unpaid Work requirements to punish offenders for crimes including theft, criminal damage and alcohol-related incidents.

    The government is investing up to £93 million extra into Community Payback which will see offenders completing millions of unpaid work each year to improve the environment and revitalise our towns and cities.

    This year marks 50 years since the launch of the first Community Payback project after the first unpaid work placement was ordered by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court on 2 January 1973.

    Notes to editors:

    • The Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean runs from 15 – 24 September.
    • The Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan sets out the Government’s approach to stamping out anti-social behaviour and restoring the right of people to feel safe in, and proud of, their local area.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK–Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference highlights collaboration [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK–Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference highlights collaboration [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

    The 18th UK–Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference highlights floating wind, O&M for offshore wind and emerging technologies collaboration.

    With mutual goals to reach net-zero targets by 2050, the 18th UK–Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference was held today to deepen the partnership and to explore further collaboration opportunities on renewable energy development between the UK and Taiwan. More than 150 participants, including 10 British business representatives, discussed the latest global renewable energy trends, shared capabilities and best practices in floating wind development, and operations & maintenance for offshore wind. Attendees also shared insights into emerging renewable energy technologies including low carbon hydrogen, carbon capture & storage and smart grid.

    Lord Faulkner of Worcester, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Taiwan and Yi-Ling CHEN, Chief Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs represented the UK and Taiwan respectively to open the Conference.

    UK grid technology company Reactive Technologies and Taiwan Power Company celebrated the rollout of Reactive Technology’s GridMetrix® platform. This platform is a grid stability measurement service software that offers real-time insight into the stability of a power system, enabling grid operators like Taiwan Power to save significant costs and manage risks more effectively. This partnership will enable Taiwan Power to accurately measure, visualise, forecast and better control inertia across its network and provide critical system stability data and insights as the network goes through a period of significant transition from fossil fuels and to renewable energy.

    Lord Faulkner of Worcester, the UK Trade Envoy to Taiwan said:

    The UK is committed to collaborating with international partners like Taiwan to overcome the challenges in energy transition, in particular the ones faced by the offshore wind industry. This is to ensure we collectively achieve our shared sustainability and net zero goals. The partnership between the UK’s Reactive Technologies and Taiwan Power Company is a great example of UK-Taiwan cooperation. This development will support stability and resilience of the power grid for Taiwan’s energy transition.

    Yi-Ling CHEN, Chief Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs, remarked:

    The cooperation between Taiwan and the UK has been ongoing for 17 years. Both sides consider offshore wind as a key focus for cooperation, covering aspects including planning, investigation, construction and operation. Besides the promotion of offshore wind, the development of other emerging renewable energy such as floating wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage is also crucial. We appreciate the valuable information regarding renewable energy shared by the UK during previous conferences.

    Umair Choudhry, APAC Regional Energy Lead, Department for Business and Trade as the UK Chair of the 18th UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference said:

    This conference has highlighted the strong and growing partnership between the UK and Taiwan in the renewable energy sector, especially in offshore wind. The UK has a wealth of knowledge, experience and resources which can support Taiwan to develop its offshore wind industry. Let us build a strong and lasting partnership between the UK and Taiwan – one that places sustainability at the forefront of our vision for the future.

    Taiwan Chair, Cheng-Wei YU, Director General of Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, said:

    The UK is in a leading position in the global renewable energy field, and Taiwan has long considered the UK as an important partner in developing renewable energy and achieving energy transition goals. We are very pleased to witness the collaboration between Taiwan and the UK in grid stability monitoring services during this conference, and we look forward to more companies from Taiwan and the UK establishing partnerships in the renewable energy field.

    Taiwan is the UK’s most important offshore wind partner in the Asia Pacific Region. More than 40 UK offshore wind companies have set up operation in Taiwan; many of these offices serving as the regional Asia-Pacific hub.

    More information

    1. The UK-Taiwan renewable energy conference is held annually and co-hosted by British Office Taipei and Bureau of Energy of Ministry of Economic Affairs.
    2. Reactive Technologies is a grid resilience technology company helping grid operators, electric utilities, and regulators transition to net zero and ensure resilient renewables-based power grids. More information please visit Reactive Technologies Limited
    3. 10 British businesses participating in the 18th UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference are:
  • PRESS RELEASE : New teaching resource helps English students around the world learn about the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New teaching resource helps English students around the world learn about the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 22 September 2023.

    English language students worldwide will learn about the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its contribution to peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

    English language students worldwide will learn about the journey to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its contribution to peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, thanks to a new teaching resource developed as part of the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) programme to mark the Agreement’s 25th anniversary.

    The NIO, together with the British Council, have today (Friday, 22 September) launched the new resource, named “25 Years On: Marking the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement,” in Colombia.

    British Ambassador to Colombia, George Hodgson, was one of the first to witness international students use the new resource as he joined a British Council English language class in the city of Bogota. The Ambassador enjoyed participating in an   English lesson with students who were learning more about the history of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, how the peace process was achieved between the UK and Irish Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland, and the role of positive language in conflict resolution more widely.

    The resource is part of the NIO’s programme to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. This new teaching English resource, which is suitable for both beginner and intermediate learners, has been adapted by the British Council from a suite of educational resources produced by The National Archives for pupils across the UK.

    The resource will be available globally through the British Council’s online Teaching English network, which currently reaches over six million learners in 238 countries. It will also be used in the British Council’s English language Teaching Centres, which welcomes more than 400,000 learners in over 100 countries every year.

    Commenting on the resource, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris stated:

    “It’s marvellous that language students around the world will learn English while also studying the history of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

    “The Agreement is a globally respected example of conflict resolution which represents a great landmark achievement in the history of Northern Ireland, the wider United Kingdom, and Ireland.

    “It’s absolutely right that this teaching resource marks the Agreement around the globe in its 25th anniversary year.”

    Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland said:

    “I am delighted to announce the launch of our new Teaching English resource in partnership with the Northern Ireland Office.

    “This milestone resource commemorates the historic Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in its 25th year and encourages English language learners to find out more about the Agreement through lessons which teach the language of negotiation and compromise in conflict resolution.

    “At the British Council, English language teaching is at the heart of what we do, and we hope through this new resource that learners from around the world will not only enhance their English language skills but also gain a deeper understanding of the history and significance of the Northern Ireland peace process.

    “As it becomes available globally through our Teaching English network, we aim to reach thousands of learners, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of diplomacy, dialogue, and reconciliation.”

    British Ambassador to Colombia George Hodgson said:

    “The Belfast Good Friday Agreement, signed 25 years ago, marked an end to decades of violence – a message of peace and progress around the world. In Colombia – a country which reached its own landmark peace agreement in 2016 – the parallels are particularly striking. I’m delighted that students learning English here – the first generation of young people since the peace deal was signed – will be able to learn about Northern Ireland and our shared experiences.”

    The resource is now available on the British Council’s Teaching English website. To access the teaching materials and find out more, please visit: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/belfast-good-friday-peace-agreement-classroom-resources

    The British Council supports 100 million English learners worldwide with online resources and connects with more than four million teachers and educators online each year – the world’s largest global network of teachers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £25 million for projects using nature to increase flood resilience [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £25 million for projects using nature to increase flood resilience [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 September 2023.

    £25 million for projects using nature to increase flood resilience.

    £25 million will be invested in projects that use nature to protect communities from flooding, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced today (22 September).

    The ring-fenced funding, provided by the Government and the Environment Agency, will support natural flood management schemes across England that use techniques such as planting trees and creating wetlands to slow and store water to reduce the risk of flooding. These schemes are also proven to improve air and water quality, provide habitats for wildlife and create green spaces for communities.

    This new funding builds on the £15m natural flood management pilot programme which ran until 2021. Across the 60 pilot projects supported by this programme, the equivalent of 1.6 million cubic metres of water storage was created and 15,000 homes were better protected from flooding, while 4,000 hectares of habitat and 610 kilometres of river were improved and 100 hectares of woodland were planted.

    The £25 million will also help harness the power of nature and support the Environment Agency’s FCERM Strategy, which provides a longer-term vision of how we will create climate-resilient places and better protect and prepare homes and businesses from flooding and coastal change.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Nature is an essential weapon in our armoury against flooding. Enhancing the natural landscape to slow rivers and hold flood water works hand-in-hand with the bricks and mortar protection we are building with our £5.2 billion flood programme.

    That is why we are driving investment to harness the power of nature. This approach not only reduces flood risk and helps tackle climate change, it can also benefit water quality, restore habitats and boost biodiversity. Natural flood management is a win-win-win.

    Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said:

    In the face of a changing climate, and with the frequency and severity of flooding only likely to get worse, we need to act now.

    The pioneers who already work with nature-based solutions to achieve greater flood resilience give me hope. I am delighted this new Natural Flood Management Programme will be open to environmental groups, catchment partnerships, farmers, landowners, and local authorities to speed up more investment in natural flood management.

    Natural flood management gives us so many wider benefits and I look forward to seeing projects coming forward that also help to create habitats for wildlife, support better river quality, and sequester carbon.

    Projects supported by the £15m pilot include the Dorking Natural Flood Management Scheme, instigated after Pipp Brook in the Surrey Hills flooded due to its steep slopes. The partners created ‘wet woodland’ that benefits biodiversity and 30 ‘leaky barriers’ that allow water to spill into the natural floodplain, stopping too much water flooding into Dorking.

    In Warwickshire, Shipston Area Flood Action Group, a community-led volunteer team, reduced the risk of flooding for homes and businesses by using natural flood management across the River Stour. Having started putting measures in place in 2017, the group now has more than 700 leaky barriers and ponds to slow the flow of water during heavy rainfall, reducing the flood risk to 17 villages and towns. The project was supported by £275,000 of Government funding. This scheme won the Environment Agency Flood and Coast Excellence 2021 Award for Community Partnership.

    Elsewhere, the South East Rivers Trust and the London Borough of Sutton worked in partnership to install sustainable urban drainage systems within six schools in the area, including gardens to absorb rain running off school buildings. This helped reduce the flood risk to the schools and other properties and improve the water quality of the River Wandle, a chalk stream. The South East Rivers Trust was awarded £92,000 as part of the programme.

    The new funding is available to environmental non-governmental organisations, businesses, farmers, catchment partnerships, flood risk management authorities and community groups.

    Successful projects will cover a large enough area to provide demonstrable flood risk benefits. The Environment Agency will manage the programme. Expressions of interest open today (22 September 2023) and will close on 10 November 2023. Projects will be delivered during 2024-27.

    Please follow these links for guidance on submitting expressions of interest and for the programme prospectus.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK urges all parties to respect ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh – UN Security Council statement [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK urges all parties to respect ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh – UN Security Council statement [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2023.

    Statement by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations at the United Nations Security Council.

    Thank you Mr President and thank you also to Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his update to this Council.

    We welcome – in particular – the participation by Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov in today’s important discussion. It’s good to see you both again, today. We wish it was under slightly difference circumstances, I’m sure.

    But like others around this table, the United Kingdom has been alarmed about the formidable pressures that have been faced by the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The humanitarian need on the ground is immense, it is growing, it is great.

    Earlier this week, like as we’ve heard already from the Minister of State for the UAE, we were all encouraged indeed when we saw that news, albeit small, that there was a small scale movement of humanitarian goods that had taken place, via both the Lachin and Aghdam roads into Nagorno-Karabakh.

    This opportunity for progress, however, was sadly cut short by Azerbaijan’s announcement of the start of a military operation. Together with many of our partners, the United Kingdom has urged Azerbaijan to end its use of force, refrain from further escalatory action, and importantly return to dialogue.

    While we fully recognise issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity, military might cannot be used to resolve tensions between communities – direct dialogue is the only way to find genuine, sustainable peace, genuine, sustainable solutions.

    It is now vital that talks resume with representatives of the Karabakhi Armenians, on the basis of a credible plan to ensure the rights and security of everyone in the region, and to allow them to live in peace.

    And at this time in particular, the United Nations and international organisations, such as the ICRC, can also provide crucial assistance in addressing immediate and long-term humanitarian needs.

    The further use of violence, Mr President, will only serve to undermine tentative progress towards a sustainable peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which should be based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries, which is unquestionably in the interests of the entire South Caucasus.

    The United Kingdom on our part welcomes yesterday’s announcement of a ceasefire. We therefore strongly urge all parties to respect that ceasefire, to end the violence, and to engage in urgent, open dialogue on a safe and secure future for the people of the region. And I assure you of our good offices, Mr President, that we stand ready as the United Kingdom to support that crucial process in any way we can.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2023.

    An overview of Minister of State, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon’s participation in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting in New York.

    Today (21 September), Minister for the Commonwealth, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, strengthened the UK’s commitment to the Commonwealth by announcing up to £3 million of support for international standards, which will reduce barriers to trade between the 56 nations.

    At the 23rd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) in New York, Lord Ahmad announced £2.75 million to directly support Commonwealth countries through the UK’s new Standards Partnership Programme. In addition, £250, 000 of funding will re-energise the Commonwealth Standards Network (CSN).

    This work, led by the British Standards Institution (BSI), will support developing countries to use internationally agreed standards, enhancing trade and boosting sustainable and inclusive growth. This will also ensure substantive training resources are available to support all Commonwealth members and open trade opportunities for international businesses, including from the UK.

    Lord Ahmad reiterated the Foreign Secretary’s vision of ensuring the organisation focuses on areas where it can deliver the greatest benefits to Commonwealth citizens, trade and investment, climate and the environment, and the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter.

    The Prime Minister of Samoa gave an update on preparations for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Apia in 2024, the first CHOGM to be held in a small island developing state in the Blue Pacific continent. Lord Ahmad responded by setting out the UK’s strong support for Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM and welcomed their chosen theme of increasing the resilience of Commonwealth countries to a range of global challenges.

    Lord Ahmad further urged the Commonwealth to use its powerful collective voice to build global momentum on climate action and environmental protection, and take practical steps towards increasing the resilience of small states to climate and economic shocks.

    Foreign ministers also discussed the ongoing work to reform the Commonwealth institutions, as mandated by Heads of Commonwealth countries during their last meeting in Kigali.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £10 million flood defence project reaches new milestone [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £10 million flood defence project reaches new milestone [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 21 September 2023.

    A multi-million project on the Essex coast has reached a new milestone after thousands of tonnes of rock armour arrived from Norway.

    At Cockett Wick, over 14,000 tonnes of Norwegian Granite have been brought in by barge over the last 6 weeks to reinforce flood defences. The new armour, which was placed in front of the Jaywick Martello tower, is part of a much larger scheme to protect the community living along the coast.

    The next phase of work is already underway as over 150 steel piles are being installed to help strengthen and raise the seawall. The construction of a new concrete wall and footpath will begin in the next few weeks.

    Together, the work will help to protect over 3,000 properties and businesses. The changes will help ensure this part of the Essex coast remains protected despite climate change and sea level rise.

    John Lindsay, Essex coastal engineer for the Environment Agency, said:

    We’re really pleased with the progress that has been made at Cockett Wick so far. The work will make a real difference to improving flood protection for the local community.

    We would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst we undertake these important works.

    Everyone should know their flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings by visiting gov.uk and search flood or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188. You can also follow @EnvAgencyAnglia for the latest flood updates.

    The defences are designed to be raised again in 50 years’ time to ensure another 50 years of protection, all while maintaining views of the sea.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Ethiopia [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Ethiopia [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2023.

    Interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. Delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

    While the conflict in Ethiopia has diminished, it certainly has not, unfortunately, disappeared.  We are deeply concerned by the latest reports of clashes in Amhara and Oromia, and the continuing situation in Tigray, where Eritrean forces are still present.  The human rights implications of these are still severe, and require independent investigation.

    It is clear there are still deep divisions and tensions in Ethiopia, which must be reconciled. In this regard, we welcome the Pretoria Peace Agreement, which must be implemented rapidly and in full. In particular, we stress the importance of genuine accountability for violations and abuses, and a credible, impartial, independent transitional justice process, and note the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment to this.  We urge them to implement this in a way that is credible to all victims, across all ethnic groups. We also call on Ethiopia to work with its international partners in support of its stability and economic development.

    Commissioners,

    Thank you for your important report, and your excellent work.  What do you see are the main barriers to accountability for human rights in Ethiopia, and how can implementation of Ethiopia’s Transitional Justice policy be best supported by the international community?