Tag: 2024

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

UK National Statement, delivered by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK’s Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth).

Mr President,

The United Kingdom is proud to stand up for freedom and democracy.

We welcome the spotlight the Human Rights Council shines on the worst violations and abuses of human rights, and its work to hold those responsible to account.

I welcome the opportunity to reflect on three key areas of concern.

Ukraine / Russia
Beginning with President Putin’s barbaric assault on Ukraine, which has been marked by some appalling violations of human rights.

Within the last week, we have seen reports from the Ukrainian authorities of their soldiers being executed by Russian forces.

The independent Commission of Inquiry has uncovered mounting evidence of war crimes, and possible crimes against humanity.

From acts of torture and sexual violence to the killing and forced deportation of innocent civilians… it is vital to establish the full facts and gather evidence.

Only then can we bring those responsible to justice.

It is imperative that this session renews the Commission’s mandate.

Turning to matters within Russia, we were appalled by the news of Alexei Navalny’s death, and hold the Russian authorities fully accountable.

We offer our deepest sympathies to Mr Navalny’s family and are pleased that his body has finally been returned.

There must be a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.

We reiterate our call for the release of all those imprisoned in Russia on political grounds, including British dual national Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Israel / OPTs
Now turning to Israel, the immediate priority must be a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which is the best route to secure the safe release of hostages and significantly step up the aid reaching Gaza.

We want that pause to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting.

That remains the focus of our diplomatic efforts.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties, and we call on all parties to act within international humanitarian law.

We are particularly concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s people are sheltering.

We urge Israel to take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Meanwhile, we have sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers involved in some of the most egregious abuses of human rights in the West Bank.

The UK remains committed to a two-state solution, guaranteeing security and stability for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

We must generate momentum now towards a permanent peace.

The UK wants to see all countries face appropriate scrutiny of their human rights record, but opposes the disproportionate focus of Item 7, which damages efforts to achieve peace.

China
Meanwhile, the UK will continue to press the Chinese authorities to improve their human rights record, including in multilateral institutions, where last year we led another record statement at the Third Committee on Xinjiang.

In Hong Kong, we urge the authorities to repeal the National Security Law, and release Jimmy Lai.

Mr President, I have only reflected on three of the many areas of concern.

We also continue to watch developments closely in Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other countries where citizens’ most basic rights are being trampled.

Also South Sudan, where we have witnessed horrendous cases of sexual and gender-based violence as well as the targeting of journalists.

It is vital that the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights is extended.

Those who abuse or violate those rights must be held to account.

We will continue to support all efforts, including through this Council, to ensure that is the case.

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 28 February 2024.

Alister Jack says boosting business and continuing to drive down inflation is key to long-term growth.

Latest figures show Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in December 2023. This follows no growth (0.0% change) in November (revised up from -0.1%) and a 0.8% fall in October (revised from -0.6%).

In the last quarter of 2023, (October to December), GDP is estimated to have contracted by 0.6%, following growth of 0.4% in Quarter 3 (July to September).

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

The UK Government has halved inflation and, in doing so, we’ve broken down the single biggest barrier to growth. We are sticking to our plan to achieve long-term sustainable recovery.

We are boosting business and encouraging trade and opportunities by investing more than £2.9 billion directly across all parts of Scotland. We’re also putting more money in the paypackets of 2.4 million people in Scotland by cutting National Insurance and rewarding hard-working families with the biggest ever increase to the national living wage from next month.

Additional information

• The combined impact of the Autumn and Spring policy packages is a permanent 0.5% increase in the level of potential output by the end of the OBR’s forecast.
• To reward work, we have cut National Insurance for 29 million people worth £9 billion per year, worth £450 for the average employee on £35,400 and £350 for the average self-employed person on £28,200.
• Full expensing is the biggest business tax cut in modern British history worth over £50 billion over the next five years – helping companies to invest for less.
• Since 2010, the UK has grown faster than France, Japan and Italy, and Germany.
• Recent figures have shown that by the end of 2021 the UK had recovered faster from the pandemic than France, Germany, and Japan.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

UK’s Minister of State for the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, on his official visit to Geneva to attend the United Nations Human Rights Council High-Level Panel.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, will visit Geneva today (Wednesday) to address the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

He will condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as calling out states who violate human rights. He will also reaffirm the Foreign Secretary’s calls for the fighting to stop now, creating the conditions for a sustainable and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as an irreversible pathway for a two-state solution that guarantees justice, peace, and security for the citizens of two states – Israel and Palestine.

Lord Ahmad will also deliver the UK’s national statement during the Conference on Disarmament’s High-Level Week, to an audience of 65 Member and over 20 Observer States. He will emphasise the importance of upholding multilateral institutions as multilateral institutions navigate growing strategic instability and politicisation.

The visit will provide the opportunity for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon to meet the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and discuss the UK’s human rights priorities.

Ahead of the visit, Lord Ahmad said:

“As we face some of the greatest global challenges of our time, the need for a strong multilateral system is more important than ever, and this visit will provide an important opportunity to come together with our international partners to protect and strengthen human rights across the world.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

The Human Rights Council will be in session from 26 February to 5 April.  The session will open with a Ministerial High-Level Segment and will be attended by the Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron gave a statement on Hong Kong’s Article 23 national security proposals.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong confirmed that for 50 years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) would maintain a high degree of autonomy and that the rights and freedoms, as provided for by the laws previously in force in Hong Kong, would continue. Hong Kong’s Basic Law sets out those rights and freedoms.

As a co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, the UK has a responsibility to ensure that those rights and freedoms are maintained.

The UK government recognises the right of all jurisdictions to implement legislation to address national security concerns.  We also acknowledge that Hong Kong has a constitutional obligation to introduce such legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Hong Kong is also required to ensure that national security legislation aligns with international standards and upholds rights and freedoms, as set out in the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Legislative proposals announced on 30 January by the Hong Kong government do not uphold these obligations. They will have a negative impact on the people of Hong Kong in the exercise of their rights and freedoms.

My officials have raised our concerns privately with the Hong Kong authorities and through the public consultation process. Those concerns include, but are not limited to:

• the toughening of penalties for speech crimes and the use of the broadly defined term ‘state secrets’ will inhibit freedom of speech, of expression and of the press
• the risk that the work of international organisations in Hong Kong could be labelled as ‘foreign interference’
• vague references to ‘external forces’ and the new offence of ‘external interference’ threaten the legitimate and lawful diplomatic and consular activity as protected in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
• the absence of any reference to independent oversight, or the mechanisms that would support it
• lack of clarity on the procedures that will govern detention without charge, and the absence of a judicial oversight mechanism
• the absence of any provision for independent and robust mechanisms to safeguard against arbitrary action by the executive on national security grounds

The UK has noted the references to UK national security legislation throughout the consultation document. UK national security legislation is informed by public consultation and was subject to full scrutiny by both Houses of Parliament, including the democratically elected House of Commons. This ensures that our national security legislation is fully representative of the views of the UK public and has democratic legitimacy.

I strongly urge the Hong Kong SAR government to re-consider their proposals and engage in genuine and meaningful consultation with the people of Hong Kong.

We will monitor development of this legislation closely.