Tag: 2023

All Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace: UK statement at the Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

I would like to start by thanking ASG Khiari for his briefing today.

I have three brief points to make.

First, we are alarmed by rising violence across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which this month culminated in Israel’s operation in Jenin.

153 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli Security Forces in the West Bank since January, more than the entirety of those killed in 2022. We support the Palestinian Authority’s independent role in securing Area A of the West Bank, as agreed in the Oslo Accords.

We urge Israel to support the Palestinian Authority in this endeavour and work collaboratively to ensure the safety and protection of civilians across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We reiterate our condemnation of all indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including recent terror attacks in Tel Aviv and Kdumim.

We are appalled by the unprecedented scale of settlement advancement in Area C of the West Bank, which we urge Israel to reverse. Settlements are illegal under international law, raise tensions, and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.

We also urge Israel to uphold its responsibility to protect Palestinian communities in Area C, particularly from rising settler violence that has recently led to violence in Turmusaya and the relocation of the Palestinian Bedouin community of Al-Baqa.

We are concerned by the forced eviction of the Ghaith-Sub Laban family from their home in the Old City of Jerusalem. We urge Israel to desist from further settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions.

Third, the UK is concerned by the provocative visit and inflammatory language used by Israeli ministers at the Haram al-Sharif, the Temple Mount, today. We reaffirm our support for the historic status quo and Jordan’s role as custodians.

The UK calls for all actors to respect the sanctity of the holy sites and avoid actions which undermine the cause of peace.

Finally, the UK underlines our firm support to UNRWA, which has a stabilising impact on the region. We call on members of the Council to ensure critical funding gaps are filled, so that vital services continue to be provided to Palestinian refugees.

All Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace and security and this can only be achieved through a two-state solution.

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the following countries: Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and my own country, the United Kingdom.

The 30th of July is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Human trafficking is a serious crime, a grave violation of human rights, and remains a serious threat to security, safety, and the rule of law in our countries. Every year, thousands of men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers, and it is those most vulnerable who are most often targeted.

The Russian Federation’s illegal, unjustifiable and brutal war against Ukraine has caused the biggest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War. With high numbers of women and children internally displaced or seeking refuge outside Ukraine, traffickers and criminal networks seek to exploit their vulnerabilities amidst the chaos and turmoil caused by Russia’s military aggression. The heightened risks of trafficking and exploitation unaccompanied minors and separated children face are particularly concerning.

Mr. Chair,

On a global scale, conflicts, humanitarian crises, socio-economic inequalities, and climate change are threatening livelihoods and leading to forced displacement, leaving millions of people worldwide exposed to the heightened risk of trafficking. As risks continue to grow, States must do more in their responses, particularly in victim detection and increasing convictions.

The theme of this year’s World Day is “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind” and is a call to action in response to disturbing developments and trends of increasing ineffectiveness and impunity, detected by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and outlined at the OSCE Conference of the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons last April. To end the crime of human trafficking we must enhance our efforts to address root causes, identify and support victims, strengthen prevention, and end impunity.

Within this context it is imperative that we, the OSCE participating States, intensify all efforts to end trafficking and exploitation, bring traffickers to justice, support victims and survivors, and identify at-risk groups to prevent trafficking in the first place. Our anti-trafficking efforts must be based on a victim-centred, trauma-informed, gender-responsive, human rights-based approach, in partnership with survivors, civil society and the private sector.

Mr. Chair,

The OSCE is a valuable platform for coordinated responses and knowledge sharing to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings. We commend the tireless efforts of the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Coordinator on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and their appropriate and timely advocacy, projects, and policy recommendations in response to developments in our region.

The BeSafe Campaign that the OSCE, in co-operation with Thomson Reuters, launched last year will receive a new push on this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Previous humanitarian crises have shown that it often takes two years to start identifying large numbers of victims of exploitation. The campaign offers people fleeing Ukraine the tools to spot signs and minimise risks of potential human trafficking. It is one example of a tangible contribution the OSCE is offering to prevent the humanitarian crisis turning into a human trafficking crisis.

It is upon us to join forces to translate our commitment into concrete actions, working in close collaboration with the dedicated team at that OSCE. The toolbox and competencies of this organisation provide valuable support to improve the implementation of our OSCE commitments. This becomes even more relevant and pressing now so as to contribute to minimizing trafficking and exploitation risks of people impacted by the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine.

While human trafficking thrives in the context of conflict or other situations characterised by impunity and the breakdown of institutions, we must bear in mind that no country is spared from this crime. We must be aware that trafficking happens everywhere, including in our streets, in our restaurants, in the products we buy, and in the services we consume. Let us remain vigilant and match our words with action to tackle this human rights crime.

I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Chair. As we approach recess, I want to reflect on the scale of Russia’s aggression in the short time since the Easter recess. Russia has killed civilians in missile strikes on Kyiv, Odesa, Kramatorsk, and across Ukraine. They have targeted grain facilities and cargo infrastructure, including in Odesa last night it seems. They have bombarded a cathedral. They bear the ultimate responsibility for the destruction of Kakhovka dam, which was under their control, and the subsequent damage to the surrounding area. Russia has shown blatant disregard for International Law. And while attacking civilian infrastructure and killing innocent people, Russia has spread lies and disinformation, in a desperate attempt to justify Putin’s intention to subjugate its sovereign and democratic neighbour. And for what? None of the war aims stated at the outset have been remotely met.

In the areas that Russia temporarily controls in Ukraine, Russia’s brutality is also evident. Vast numbers of Ukrainian civilians have been subjected to Russia’s calculated so-called “filtration” process. We have all seen the reports. Innocent civilians are being detained and violently interrogated. Many of those are forcibly transferred to other locations and detention centres. Families often have no idea where they are and may never see them again.

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 91% of civilian detainees held by Russia experience torture and ill-treatment. This includes sexual violence. And since 24 February last year, the UN has recorded the summary execution of 77 Ukrainian civilians arbitrarily detained by Russian forces. Russia’s so-called “filtration” process is part of a wider strategy to suppress resistance, destroy Ukrainian cultural and national identity, and erase Ukraine’s future.

Amongst Russia’s appalling atrocities is their treatment of Ukrainian children. The Ukrainian authorities have recorded the forcible deportation of over 19,000 Ukrainian children by Russian forces. The true figure is likely to be much higher. Many deported children have been relocated to a network of re-education camps in illegally annexed Crimea and deep within Russia. Other children find themselves in social care institutions of the Russian Federation. Among the victims are thousands of orphans. Children have been removed from their homes in Ukraine without the consent of their parents, legal guardians, or the directors of their institutions. Russian authorities are not registering these children or sharing information with the relevant authorities, which is in violation of Russia’s obligations under International Law.

The OSCE’s third Moscow Mechanism report exposed the violations of the rights of children deported to the Russian Federation, including denying their right to identity, their right to family, and their right to unite with their family. We are determined to hold to account those responsible. So, on 17 July the UK announced new sanctions, including ten individuals and one entity involved in the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children. These individuals have played an insidious role in Russia’s calculated programme of deportation.

Mr Chair, last week, we were encouraged to engage in more ‘dialogue’ in this room. And yet the pace of Russia’s appalling behaviour is as high, if not higher, than ever. What kind of dialogue is possible against this backdrop of unprovoked aggression, widespread human rights abuses and violations, and the manifestly absurd pretence that Ukraine is somehow to blame or has provoked such treatment? We all know that during the course of Russia’s campaign of aggression, the Helsinki principles have been comprehensively undermined. We as diplomats are trained to find solutions. But there cannot be dialogue as usual under these conditions. Putin must end this illegal invasion and withdraw all Russian forces from all of Ukraine.

Mr Chair, over this summer, the UK will continue to monitor Russia’s actions closely. There is no respite for the people of Ukraine, who continue to sacrifice their lives in pursuit of peace, freedom, and the integrity of their country. Principles that the OSCE is built to protect. We stand with them, and they will win. Thank you.

Joint statement signed by 31 countries and international organisations, Bucharest, 27 July 2023:

We, the undersigned diplomatic missions and international organisations in Bucharest, express our support for Bucharest Pride 2023. This is the 18th edition of this annual event celebrating the diversity and dignity of the LGBTIQ+ community in Romania.

Bucharest Pride, and all Pride events across Romania, are important occasions to stand up for LGBTIQ+ rights and inclusion. We commend the organisers, volunteers and participants for their work and commitment to achieve equality. We reaffirm our commitment to respecting, promoting and protecting the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and human rights for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

We firmly support the LGBTIQ+ community in Romania in its pursuit of equal rights, in accordance with international human rights law and the principle of universal human rights. The European Court of Human Rights has established a strong framework for protecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. The Court has set out obligations to ensure equality under national laws, such as the establishment of effective hate crime response mechanisms, legal protection for same-sex families and a transparent, consistent, and accessible legal gender recognition procedure for transgender people.

In this context, we encourage the Romanian authorities to address any current legal gaps for the full realisation of LGBTIQ+ rights.

Equality, diversity, non-discrimination and respect for universal human rights are part of our core values, and we must act to defend these values, both at home and globally. We recognise that more needs to be done to achieve full equality for LGBTIQ+ persons.

We will continue to work with Romanian authorities and civil society to ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, European Commission Representation in Romania, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Romania and UNHCR Representation in Romania