Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2026.

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on UNMHA.

We welcome the Council’s extension of UNMHA’s mandate for a final two-month period until 31 March 2026.

We look forward to the UN’s orderly and sustainable transition of UNMHA’s responsibilities and residual functions to the Office of the Special Envoy and we welcome the continued commitment of this Council to the Hodeidah and Stockholm Agreements.

I want to thank those UNMHA officials who have worked tirelessly as since 2019, especially in the face of continued Houthi restrictions which inhibited the Mission’s ability to fulfil its mandate.

The safety of UN personnel across Yemen remains of the upmost importance.

Once again, the UK condemns arbitrary detentions by the Houthis, and we reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

The UK remains steadfast in our support for the Special Envoy in fostering an intra-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2026.

Delivered at Oman’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Vice President,

The UK recognises Oman’s progress on human rights issues since its last review, particularly efforts to combat human trafficking, including through the introduction of a new Anti-Trafficking Law. We also welcome Oman’s accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

However, we encourage continued action to ensure full equality for women and girls in law and in practice, in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

We urge Oman to continue enhancing the rights and protections afforded to migrant workers within its national legal framework.

We recommend Oman:

1. Fully implements its new anti-trafficking legislation;
2. Continues strengthening its domestic laws and policies to safeguard the rights and welfare of migrant workers.
3. Brings forward reforms which ensure gender equality is guaranteed in its nationality laws.

Thank you.

STORY

The UK Government has expressed deep concern after North Korea conducted another ballistic missile launch on 27 January 2026. In a statement released by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), a spokesperson highlighted that the act serves as a direct violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The British government warned that such launches continue to destabilise peace and security across the Korean Peninsula. This latest provocation follows a series of similar tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) over recent months, which have consistently drawn international condemnation for threatening regional stability and the rules-based international system.

In its official response, the FCDO urged the North Korean leadership to cease further provocations and instead focus on the well-being of its citizens. The UK continues to call for the DPRK to engage in meaningful diplomacy and return to the negotiating table. British officials noted that they remain committed to working alongside international partners, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, to ensure a robust and collective response to the ongoing threat posed by the DPRK’s unlawful weapons development.

STORY

In a joint statement released on 27 January 2026, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States have called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in North East Syria to avoid a “security vacuum” that could be exploited by the Islamic State (ISIS). The diplomatic intervention followed high-level meetings between UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Minister of State Serap Güler and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack.

The four nations welcomed the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between Syrian Government Forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on 24 January. International observers remain particularly concerned about the security of ISIS detention centres in the region, where thousands of detainees are currently held. To mitigate the risk of mass escapes during the volatility, the United States has begun an operation to transfer approximately 7,000 of the most “hardened” ISIS fighters from SDF-run prisons to detention facilities in Iraq.

The joint statement emphasised that a unified and sovereign Syrian state that protects the rights of all citizens remains the most effective path to long-term stability. This diplomatic push aligns with a new 14-point integration plan, which seeks to disband the SDF and merge its individual members into the Syrian national army and police forces. While the current ceasefire has allowed the first UN aid convoys to reach besieged areas like Kobani, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 173,000 people displaced by the recent offensive.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2026.

Joint statement by France, Germany, the UK and the USA, following a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, German Minister of State, UK Foreign Secretary and US Special Envoy.

Joint statement by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Minister of State Serap Güler, and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack:

We welcome the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian Government Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces announced on 24 January. We call upon all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and to exercise their utmost restraint. We urge all external parties to join us in pursuit of peace and de-escalation of violence.

We reiterate the obligation of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. We welcome the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. We emphasise that these corridors must be maintained, and basic services resumed in the city of Kobane.

We also welcome the vital role played by partners, including Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in addressing the challenges posed by ISIS.

We urge all parties to swiftly agree to a permanent ceasefire, and to resume as soon as possible negotiations aiming at the peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary and sovereign state that effectively respects and protects the rights of all its citizens, based on the 18 January 2026 agreement, as the most effective path to stability in Syria.

We reiterate the need to maintain and focus collective efforts on the fight against ISIS. We call upon all parties to avoid any security vacuum in and around ISIS detention centres. To address these concerns, we agreed to promptly convene a meeting of the International Coalition against ISIS.

We reaffirm our support for an inclusive political transition in Syria, which protects the rights of all Syrians, and emphasise that the stabilisation of North-East Syria through peaceful means constitutes a central priority for preventing a resurgence of terrorism and for regional security. We underline readiness to support and monitor, together with regional and international partners, the implementation of agreements between the parties which aim at a peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary, inclusive and sovereign state, effectively protecting the rights of all its citizens.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 January 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on International Rule of Law.

The United Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to the rule of law is a key part of our national story, beginning over 800 years ago when the Magna Carta was signed, guaranteeing rights to justice and a fair trial.

The rule of law remains fundamental to the international system. It is the bedrock of stable democratic societies and prosperous economies. 

As embodied in the UN Charter, it is key to the maintenance of international peace and security. We must never lose sight of why nations first came together in this forum, and the principles that continue to bind us together.

Respect for international law is fundamental to offering a better future to citizens from the Middle East, to Sudan, to Haiti, and beyond. And, of course, in Ukraine, which has been on the receiving end of an egregious breach of the UN Charter.

President, the UK stands firm in our support for the institutions which defend and advance the international rule of law. 

The International Court of Justice’s demanding workload is testament to its impartiality, independence, and legal rigour. 

We also remain steadfast in our support for the International Criminal Court and its vital work to end impunity for the gravest crimes.

The UK believes that international law delivers real benefits and helps us address contemporary global challenges. 

For example, the recent entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement marks a major milestone in safeguarding our shared marine environment.

As we speak, work towards a Convention on Crimes Against Humanity is underway, representing a significant opportunity to strengthen prevention and accountability. 

And progress on a draft Convention for the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters reflects the importance of legal frameworks that enhance preparedness and cooperation. 

These efforts show what is possible when states work collectively to build and refine the international legal order to address new and emerging challenges.

In this context, the UK was pleased to recently pledge additional voluntary contributions to a range of UN funds supporting participation in these initiatives and the rule of law.

These include the UN Programme of Assistance on international law, the operationalisation of the BBNJ Agreement, participation of developing States at the PPED negotiating conference, and the ICJ Judicial Fellowship.

President, the United Kingdom’s enduring commitment to the rule of law is unwavering, reflecting our firm commitment to peace, international cooperation, accountability, and to the UN Charter.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 January 2026.

Thank you, Madam President,

The United Kingdom welcomes Georgia’s engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process. However, we remain concerned about the serious deterioration in the human rights situation. Since 2024, there has been excessive use of force by police against peaceful protesters, politically motivated arrests, restrictions on freedom of assembly, intimidation of journalists, and legislative measures that undermine civil society and political pluralism.

We recommend that Georgia:

• Ensure independent, impartial investigations into allegations of police violence and ill-treatment during protests, and hold perpetrators accountable. 
• Guarantee the safety and independence of journalists, civil society and human rights defenders, and repeal or amend legislation that restricts their ability to operate. 
• Release all those unjustly detained on politically motivated charges, and take urgent steps to uphold the independence of the judiciary and right to a fair trial.

We urge the Government of Georgia to ensure accountability for human rights violations and to uphold its international obligations on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

Thank you, Madam President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 January 2026.

Joint Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the High Representative of the EU.

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, are gravely concerned by the developments surrounding the ongoing protests in Iran. We strongly oppose the intensification of the Iranian authorities’ brutal repression of the Iranian people, who have been bravely voicing legitimate aspirations for a better life, dignity and freedom, since the end of December 2025.

We are deeply alarmed at the high level of reported deaths and injuries. We condemn the deliberate use of violence and the killing of protestors, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators.

We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise full restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens, including the rights to freedom of expression, to seek, receive and impart information, and the freedom of association and peaceful assembly, without fear of reprisal.

The members of the G7 remain prepared to impose additional restrictive measures if Iran continues to crack down on protests and dissent in violation of international human rights obligations.