Tag: 2026

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2026.

UK Statement at Paraguay’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Mr Vice President

We welcome Paraguay’s engagement with the UPR process and its acceptance of a majority of the recommendations from the previous cycle. We also recognise Paraguay’s efforts to strengthen national coordination mechanisms to monitor implementation and encourage continued transparency in reporting.

But challenges persist in ensuring effective protection of civic space, equal protection from discrimination, and access to essential services for vulnerable groups. Addressing these challenges will consolidate progress and deliver tangible improvements in human rights on the ground.

We recommend that Paraguay:

1. Reviews and amends legislation and administrative practices to ensure that journalists, human rights defenders and civil society actors can operate free from intimidation or undue restriction, and publishes annual data on investigations and outcomes related to alleged harassment or threats.
2. Adopts and implements comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation to ensure equal protection and effective remedies for all and publishes regular data on enforcement and remedies provided.
3. Sets and implements time‑bound targets to reduce disparities affecting Indigenous and rural communities in access to health and essential services, with progress reported through publicly available national monitoring mechanisms.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2026.

Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Arria meeting on protecting medical care in conflict amid evolving threats.

Ten years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286, a landmark commitment to protect the wounded and sick, and the medical and humanitarian personnel caring for them during armed conflict. 

The United Kingdom was proud to co-sponsor that resolution. Yet attacks on health care continue to rise. 

The number of medical personnel and patients killed in conflict zones doubled last year, reaching record levels, with Sudan, Myanmar, and Palestine amongst the worst affected. 

We are also deeply concerned by recent attacks on medical staff and facilities in Lebanon. 

This anniversary must be used to consider how we ensure Resolution 2286 delivers real and practical protection on the ground. 

I will make three points.

First, the United Kingdom calls on all parties to conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including in relation to the protection of medical and humanitarian personnel. 

The UK is proud to co-sponsor a workstream under the ICRC’s Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative and to have supported the Australian–led Political Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

Second, all parties to conflict must be held accountable when they fail to comply with international humanitarian law. We underline the importance of transparent and timely investigations when health workers, humanitarian, and medical facilities are harmed. 

States must consider allowing access to independent fact-finding missions, conduct their own investigations, and share findings transparently. 

These steps are essential to ensuring accountability.

Third, as new technologies emerge, they must be developed and used in full compliance with international humanitarian law. 

The growing use of uncrewed aerial systems risks further endangering already fragile operating environments, particularly for civilians and medical workers. 

We have seen the grave consequences of misuse in contexts including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine.

Chair, access to health care is critical to peace and security. 

We must do more to ensure that medical personnel can deliver that care safely, in line with international humanitarian law.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2026.

UK Statement at Estonia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Vice President,

The UK acknowledges the demanding security context facing Estonia, shaped by Russia’s aggression, persistent cyber and hybrid activity, and efforts to weaken democratic trust and societal cohesion. We commend Estonia’s continued leadership in upholding democratic values, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including its proactive approach to countering disinformation and strengthening national resilience.

We welcome Estonia’s continued progress on gender equality and minority inclusion. We also commend Estonia’s principled and sustained support for Ukraine in response to Russia’s aggression.

We recommend that Estonia:

1. Strengthens its response to violence against women and girls, including by progressing consent‑based sexual offences legislation and ensuring accessible, adequately resourced protection, support and justice for victims.
    
2. Continues advancing equality for LGBT+ people by strengthening comprehensive anti‑discrimination protections and improving the prevention, investigation and prosecution of hate speech and hate‑motivated crime.
    
3. Ensures that measures adopted on national security grounds remain consistent with human rights obligations – including freedom of religion or belief, freedom of association and the rule of law – while safeguarding the effective participation of minority communities in democratic and public life.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2026.

UK Statement at Mozambique’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The United Kingdom recognises the government’s commitment to improving its human rights framework and acknowledges the challenges Mozambique faces, including insecurity, humanitarian pressures, and climate‑related impacts.

However, we remain concerned by reports of human rights abuses and disproportionate restrictions on civic and political space. Allegations of intimidation and violence undermine trust in institutions. A safe and open civic and political space is essential to democracy.

We recommend that Mozambique:

1. Strengthens the independence and effectiveness of accountability and oversight mechanisms – including the judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission – to ensure prompt, impartial and transparent investigations of alleged violations, including by security forces.
2. Continues implementing the national legal framework on internal displacement, with particular attention to protection and essential services for children affected by conflict.
3. Prioritises finalising a National Action Plan on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights by the end of 2026.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2026.

UK Statement at Niger’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Mr Vice-President,

We welcome Niger’s continued engagement with the UPR process.

These include efforts to advance and protect the rights of women and girls, especially in terms of access to essential health services and protection from gender-based violence, as well as steps taken to improve conditions of detention and maintain a moratorium on the death penalty.

We recommend that Niger: 

1. Continues advancing the rights of women and girls by strengthening laws to support survivors of sexual violence, including access to specialist health services, and by further deterring child marriage through the criminalisation of those who enable it.
2. Enshrines the abolition of the death penalty in law, in line with the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, and by continuing the commutation of existing death sentences.
3. Supports continued monitoring of human rights in Niger, including minority rights, by establishing the planned National Observatory for Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties and committing to protecting its independence.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2026.

Statement by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, at Namibia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom welcomes Namibia’s constitutional commitment to human rights, and encourages continued progress in delivering equal rights and equal access to services for all.

We recommend that Namibia:

1. Expands support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, improves access to justice and data transparency, and increases sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls in rural areas.
2. Establishes referral procedures for trafficking across the country, trains frontline responders, and openly publishes data on identified victims, referrals, investigations, prosecutions and support provided.
3. Promotes LGBT+ equality with anti-discrimination laws, accessible reporting and public data.

Thank you.