Tag: 2024

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2024.

Botswana and the G7 announce plans to improve transparency in the diamond trade. A new certification node will help stop Russian origin diamonds entering G7 markets.

Joint Statement by Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team:

A G7 import ban on Russian origin diamonds began on 1 January 2024. On 1 March 2024, Russian diamonds processed in third countries were also banned in the G7 jurisdictions.

On 1 March 2024, the first certification node with the ability to certify the origin of rough diamonds and issue G7 certificates became operational in the EU. Following this, the G7 diamond technical team and Botswana have increased collaboration on enhancing traceability and transparency in the diamond trade.

To enhance Botswana’s capacity in certifying rough diamonds for export, aligning with the G7 requirements to prevent Russian-mined diamonds from entering G7 markets and ensure traceability throughout the supply chain, the Belgium and Botswana teams conducted a comprehensive gap analysis, assessing current frameworks and identifying areas that require further alignment.

As a result, Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team are now crafting a roadmap to address any identified gaps, aiming to have the export certification node fully operational in Botswana as soon as possible next year.

H.E. President Duma Boko of Botswana, in his recent keynote address at the FACET event in Antwerp on 26 November 2024, underscored the importance of ethical and sustainable diamond mining as a cornerstone of Botswana’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability within the diamond industry. “Botswana is committed to pioneering traceability and responsible mining practices, ensuring that our diamonds not only shine in beauty but also embody integrity and ethical stewardship,” he said.

Establishing this certification node will reinforce Botswana’s position as a responsible global leader in diamond production, offering reassurance to international buyers and stakeholders. This development is expected to increase investor confidence, support economic growth, and promote ethical practices across the diamond supply chain. The G7 diamond technical team will continue engaging with other African diamond-producing countries such as Namibia and Angola to consider setting up additional export certification nodes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2024.

Statement by Shadi Fathizadeh, Head of Humanitarian, Peacebuilding and UN Funds and Programmes at the UN Second Committee on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review.

Colleagues, I would like to begin by thanking the Second Committee Bureau, the Swiss facilitator’s team, and all negotiators from other delegations.

The Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review has been a long, complex, negotiation. But the fact we have a resolution today – which represents for the most part a negotiated outcome – is an achievement to be celebrated and a testament to the value we all place on this important text.

Chair, with 6-years to 2030, the UK approached this negotiation firmly of the view that this QCPR had to deliver a step change in ambition. It needed to ensure that the UN development system is best positioned to support countries deliver their development plans and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, towards a world free from poverty, on a liveable planet.

The UK welcomes the text as it sets clear guidelines towards a more impactful, coordinated, and efficient system.

We are pleased the QCPR reaffirms the vital role of UN Resident Coordinators in supporting countries achieve their development goals, and ensure coherence of UN development activities in-country. At a time when funding for the RC system is being negotiated, this sends a clear signal to the fifth committee on the importance of finding a sustainable, predictable solution this year.

We also welcome the new language on science and technology. This establishes important system-wide principles to ensure both the opportunities, and the risks presented by technological and scientific advances, are managed in a way that ensures all can benefit.

Inevitably perhaps in a text of such ambitious breadth, there are areas where we assess the text falls short.

Interlinkages and interdependencies between climate, nature and development are increasingly clear. This cannot be disputed. The impacts of climate change, which are predicted to put an extra 100 million people at risk of being pushed into extreme poverty by 2030, will not be addressed without different approaches from the UN development system.

We have been clear throughout the negotiations that rather than – and to avoid – duplicating existing UN processes, an effective response requires the further mainstreaming of climate and environment across the work of the development system.

Similarly, against the backdrop of rising global conflict and growing humanitarian need, we consider the text insufficiently ambitious in recognising the benefits that would arise from adopting joint approaches across humanitarian, development and peace strands. Building nexus approaches delivers the best chance of overcoming root causes and delivering long term, sustainable development including achieving the SDGs.

The UK further regrets the text’s weak language on gender, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Poverty is not gender neutral. Progress must be made in this critical area and Member States need to ensure that we do not condemn certain groups within society to a more difficult path out of poverty.

It is now imperative that this resolution is implemented.

As noted in the QCPR, the UK acknowledges that not every action should fall to the entities of the UN Development System. As a leading donor, we recognise our responsibility to avoid over-burdening the system by setting unnecessary requirements.

I am pleased to note that discussions are already taking place between the UN and the UK to develop a template for a consistent approach for core funding Memoranda of Understanding, and we will look to build on this to explore where we can further streamline requirements. We encourage other donors to do likewise.

The UK’s commitment to the UN Development System remains unquestionable. We will continue to work in close partnership, here in New York including through governing bodies, in other UN offices, and on the ground, to deliver this important mandate.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 November 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN General Assembly meeting on the use of the veto.

Last week our Foreign Secretary used the UK Presidency of the Security Council to draw the world’s attention to the devasting impact on civilians of the conflict in Sudan.

The Secretary-General’s October report described the deliberate targeting of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and the abduction of children.

The UK and Sierra Leone decided to act in response to the urgent situation on the ground. Working in partnership, we co-penned a resolution on the protection of civilians, seeking to bring the Council together to address the protection crisis.

We consulted extensively with Council members and stakeholders to produce a balanced text.

The draft resolution called for the development of a compliance mechanism for the Jeddah Declaration, ensuring that the commitments made by both parties to protect civilians translated to results on the ground.

It called for the warring parties to support humanitarian pauses to ensure the safe passage of civilians and aid.

And it would have provided the international community with practical steps to support mediation efforts, to protect civilians and work towards a lasting ceasefire.

The draft resolution also fully respected the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan. We engaged extensively and listened carefully to the views of the Sudanese Mission when developing the text.

Nothing in the text compromised the sovereignty of Sudan. Indeed, the provisions on humanitarian access through border crossings were explicit that this should be done with the prior agreement and coordination of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council.

The Sierra Leone UK co-penned resolution received 14 votes in favour. This included all the African Council members.  But one country cynically blocked this resolution at the last minute.

Russia’s veto prevented necessary Council action on the basic rights of African civilians to be protected.

Despite Russia’s veto, 14 votes in favour sends a clear message. The international community will not allow Sudan to be forgotten, nor the suffering of civilians to be ignored.

We must ensure that the Security Council continues to act for peace in Sudan. Our ambition remains high and unwavering, and we hope to move forward constructively.

The UK is doing its part. Foreign Secretary Lammy announced last week that we are doubling the UK’s humanitarian aid to Sudan, providing an additional $143 million.

But funding is not the only issue, we must ensure that aid actually reaches those most in need. We welcome the decision to extend the authorization of the Adre crossing and the establishment of UN humanitarian hubs in El-Obeid Kadugli and Ad-Damazin. We call on the Sudanese authorities to facilitate UN presence and delivery across all of Sudan.

We welcome the new emergency relief coordinators visit to Sudan, and we will continue to work with our OCHA, our African partners and other actors to press for more aid, more access and more protection in Sudan.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 November 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of humanitarian workers.

Colleagues, the scale and severity of threats to humanitarian personnel is alarming. As we’ve heard today, 2024 is already the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers and we have not reached the end.

The tragic loss of life, including in Gaza, Sudan, and South Sudan is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who deliver lifesaving assistance, and provide hope, in the toughest of circumstances.

Humanitarian workers, including national and local actors, should never be targeted for doing their jobs. We owe them more than words of support. I would like to highlight three actions member states must take:

First, to facilitate rapid and full humanitarian access to all civilians in need and fully comply with international humanitarian law. This is a bare minimum and reflected in the 1949 Geneva Conventions which we have all ratified.

Second, take all feasible steps to ensure effective and trusted deconfliction mechanisms are in place and utilised, in line with the obligations of parties to a conflict to protect humanitarian personnel. We urge states to investigate attacks swiftly and hold perpetrators to account.

Finally, do more to counter misinformation and disinformation, which poses an increasing threat to UN and humanitarian staff.

Colleagues, attacks targeting humanitarian personnel are violations of international humanitarian law and unacceptable. This Council must stand united in defending those who protect the most vulnerable.

The UK thanks Switzerland for its leadership on Resolution 2730 which we are happy to co-sponsor. We urge Member States to implement this resolution and to ensure the principles we affirm today allow humanitarian workers to do their jobs safely and free from fear.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 November 2024.

Statement by Her Excellency Joanna Roper, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Director-General, Mr Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

I would like to begin by thanking Director-General and the Technical Secretariat for their work to prepare for this Conference.  I would also like to thank the Director General for his comprehensive update detailing a year of important achievements.

Many thanks to our outgoing Chair, Ambassador Suljuk Tarar. Congratulations Ambassador Salvic on your appointment – you have the UK’s full support.

Mr Chair,

The Chemical Weapons Convention is an exceptional achievement and the UK remains wholly committed to its full implementation.

The UK has funded and helped deliver regional training in East Africa since 2016, and we will support similar training in the Caribbean in 2025. This year alone, we have supported laboratories in Brazil, Chile, Kenya and Nigeria to work towards OPCW Designated Laboratory status. We will continue to partner with other National Authorities to build capacity.

New technologies will transform the work of the OPCW, creating new risks and new opportunities. We welcome the Director General’s leadership on this issue and I thank Morocco for hosting an important conference last month on Artificial Intelligence and the CWC.

We also applaud work to enhance geographical representation and gender diversity, and to make important technical improvements to the tenure policy. I welcome civil society representatives joining us this week. Academia, industry and NGOs are crucial partners in our mission to eliminate chemical weapons.

Mr Chair,

Despite important progress, the Chemical Weapons Convention is under threat. Chemical weapons still exist in this world despite the hard-won achievements of recent years.

The UK has first-hand experience of a chemical weapons attack on our soil. This week, on the International Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, my thoughts will be with the family of Dawn Sturgess and the victims of the Russian Novichok attack in Salisbury in 2018. The inquiry into her death is underway as we speak.

Mr Chair,

Let us be clear: despite what it claims, Russia is using chemical weapons in Ukraine. We thank Ukraine for sharing the report from the OPCW’s most recent Technical Assistance Visit.  The report confirmed the presence of riot control agents in samples collected by Ukraine from the frontlines. This is no surprise. The Russian military has boasted about their use of riot control agents and Ukraine has documented thousands of incidents. We can now add a comprehensive, impartial report to this growing wealth of evidence.

If we fail to respond to Russia’s breaches of the Convention, we put the fundamental principles of the Convention at risk. In October, the UK imposed sanctions on those involved in the Russian use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Mr Chair,

We have all been horrified by the images of conflict in the Middle East. The fighting must stop now. The UK calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and non-combatants.

At this time of growing regional instability, we are increasingly concerned that thousands of the Assad Regime’s chemical weapon munitions and hundreds of tonnes of chemical agent remain unaccounted for. The OPCW’s Declaration Assessment Team issued further evidence this year of undeclared chemical weapon production and weaponisation.

The total, verifiable destruction of Assad’s chemical weapons programme is the only guaranteed means to protect the Syrian people and prevent proliferation to terrorist organisations.  Last year’s Decision on Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use and the Threat of Future Use was an important step forward and we encourage full implementation of its recommendations by all states. We must also continue to afford our full support to the OPCW Fact Finding Mission, the Investigation and Identification Team and the UN’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism.

Mr Chair,

In June 2025, we will mark 100 years since the signature of the Geneva Protocol. Chemical weapons are a horror that should be consigned to history. To do that, we must stand together to defend the Convention in a changing world and hold to account all those that use these appalling weapons.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 November 2024.

The British Army and Kenya Defence Forces conducted a joint training exercise (Ex. Haraka Storm Bravo) in Laikipia County using new state of the art training technology to better monitor and train soldiers – a vital part of the UK-Kenya defence partnership to make the region safer and more secure.

This year’s exercise introduced advanced Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) equipment: an innovative training tool designed to enhance tactical effectiveness. TES technology uses computerised vests that record and transmit tactical data, allowing control units to track and analyse the position, movement, and actions of each soldier during field exercises. Key metrics such as firing accuracy, speed, and direction are captured and reviewed to refine tactical techniques and improve overall operational efficiency.

The exercise was witnessed by senior UK and KDF officials, including: the UK Defence Adviser, Brigadier Olly Bryant; KDF General Officer Commanding (GOC) Eastern Command, Major General Kutto; Commander 2 Mechanised Brigade, Brigadier Kamoiro; Kenya Army Chief of Training, Brigadier Mzee; and Commanding Officer 5KR, Lieutenant Colonel Mulwa.

This joint training exercise was part of the UK-Kenya defence partnership, which enables up to six light infantry battle groups to conduct annual training in Kenya. These exercises are designed to prepare troops for global deployment.

Brigadier William Kamoiro highlighted the benefits of TES in improving training outcomes:

The technology to review the exercise, enabled by the use of TES equipment, not only introduces realism into the exercise but also saves the battle group from wasting live ammunition as the team perfects their skills. The British Army’s 2 Rifles and KDF’s Bravo Company of 5KR have demonstrated well-trained battle groups who know what they are doing and how to target and clear the enemy to achieve the set objective. I can confidently report that through the joint exercise, the soldiers are ready for deployment.

Major James Athow-Frost, overseeing BATUK’s Tactical Operations, highlighted the unique opportunities Kenya’s terrain offers:

Kenya offers an incredible terrain for the British troops to train – hot and arid locations and living in basic camps in the bush. This enables the units to be prepared for operations in demanding terrain. The combined training offers the two battle groups an opportunity to exchange experience and use technology like the TES program which brings all battle groups’ activities into a virtual world.

Major General Kutto acknowledged the mutual benefits of the collaboration:

There is a lot of knowledge and skills that we borrow from each other. The demonstration by the two battle groups working together to clear the enemy is a clear indication of the symbiotic relationship between the two forces. The enemy that we are facing is amorphous, it keeps on changing and we must also be able to match and even be smarter. The introduction of TES technology is a huge step towards this.

Kenya remains one of UK’s leading defence partners in East Africa. The UK and Kenya share a long and proud history of military cooperation, working together across land, sea, and air to address shared challenges and ensure the safety of their citizens.

Beyond military preparedness, the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) also invests in community projects, collaborating with National and County Governments, non-governmental and community organisations to address community needs.