Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 November 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Conflict-related Food Insecurity.

Famine in the 21st century is not a natural disaster – it is a man-made tragedy. The evidence is clear: nearly 300 million people face acute food insecurity, most in countries affected by conflict. Across Sudan, Gaza, the Sahel, Yemen and Myanmar, conflict has devastated harvests, shattered supply chains, and uprooted families from the land they depend on.

I will make three points.

First, the Security Council has a responsibility to address conflict, to prevent escalation, and to support efforts towards inclusive and sustainable peace. We have the tools.

Resolutions 2417 and 2573 are unequivocal: starvation as a weapon of war and attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. We urge all Member States to strengthen monitoring, reporting, and accountability for violations, and to uphold their obligations under these resolutions.

Second, international humanitarian law must be upheld. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to conflict to comply fully with international humanitarian law and allow rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. When aid is blocked or delayed, it is the most vulnerable who suffer first – families are cut off from food and children face acute malnutrition.

In April, the UK launched the Conflict, Hunger and International Humanitarian Law Handbook, offering practical guidance to minimise food insecurity during conflict.

Third, we must act to prevent hunger wherever it occurs. Conflict breeds hunger, but hunger can also fuel instability and further conflict. The UK’s Resilience and Adaptation Fund, alongside our humanitarian financing, is supporting longer term solutions in fragile and conflict-affected states – building local systems that protect people, markets, and livelihoods in the face of climatic and other shocks.

We are investing in climate resilient agriculture, supporting local food systems, and championing the participation of women and youth in building resilient communities.

The UK remains committed to supporting food security and tackling conflict-driven hunger. We are the largest bilateral donor to the Food and Agriculture Organization and, this year alone, contributed over $540 million to the World Food Programme for critical interventions including in Palestine and Sudan.

The UK will continue to press for sustained humanitarian access and invest in resilience – so that conflict does not condemn communities to hunger. We all must use the tools at our disposal to break this cycle.

The press release issued by the 14 November 2025.

UK explanation of vote delivered by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on Abyei.

The United Kingdom voted in favour of renewing UNISFA’s mandate, and we thank the United States for their efforts on the text.

I will make two points.

First, UNISFA remains essential to maintaining stability and protecting civilians in Abyei. 

We urge the Sudanese and the South Sudanese authorities to take steps in line with this resolution for the benefit of peace and security.

As this resolution makes clear, any decisions on UNISFA’s future must be informed by a thorough assessment of the implications for the protection of civilians.

Second, addressing the drivers of conflict in Abyei requires sustained attention to the impacts of climate change and related challenges, while ensuring that the specific needs of women and girls are met, including through an inclusive peace process.

In Abyei, these are not abstract concepts. 

As such, we regret the removal of provisions in this regard.

The United Kingdom will continue to work with all Council members to support UNISFA in delivering effectively for the people of Abyei.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2025.

Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on working methods.

Thank you to our briefers: we all collectively benefit from your exceptional institutional knowledge and continued close following of the Council’s evolving working methods.

 Let me also thank Denmark and Pakistan for your joint stewardship of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. 

Underlining the United Kingdom’s approach to working methods is our desire for an action-oriented Security Council that is able to build consensus and reach compromises through constructive and informed debate.

The United Kingdom welcomes today’s open debate, as an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the full implementation of Note 507, which underwent a significant update under Japan’s leadership of the Informal Working Group last year. 

At that time, we were pleased to work with Council members to make amendments to enhance the Security Council’s transparency and accountability, whilst still preserving the important principle of confidentiality, including in areas such as access to historic documentation.

We are committed to responsible and effective penholding, taking into account views of countries concerned and of the region, including in both bilateral discussions and through their participation in relevant Council meetings under Rule 37, and we remain resolute in seeking to build consensus across this Council. 

This includes – where appropriate and mutually agreeable – co-penning products as we have done for example, with the African members of the Council on Libya and Sudan. 

We note the impact the delay in agreeing subsidiary body chairs this year has had on Committee work, and look forward to working with all current and incoming Council members to come to agreement on a package for 2026 to give incoming Chairs sufficient time to prepare.

 As members of the Security Council, we all have a stake in preserving its integrity and upholding its mandate to maintain international peace and security. To that end, the United Kingdom remains committed to working with everyone around this table to continually review the Council’s working methods, in a collective effort to strengthen its effectiveness and efficiency.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2025.

UK Introductory Statement for the UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Sudan. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer.

Thank you, Mr President.

I deliver this statement on behalf of the Sudan Core Group consisting of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

We requested this Special Session because the scale and severity of the crisis in Sudan can no longer be met with silence.

The situation in El Fasher is the latest example of a broader collapse. A collapse of rule of law, protection of civilians, and human dignity.

As we have heard from so many speakers today, what we are witnessing is not just a humanitarian emergency, but a systematic assault on civilians, with consequences that extend far beyond Sudan’s borders.

The violence in El Fasher bears the hallmarks of a coordinated campaign against civilians by the Rapid Support Forces. Their advance has been accompanied by credible reports of ethnically targeted killings, systematic sexual violence, and the deliberate use of starvation.

Across Sudan, over 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance. And yet, access to aid is obstructed, and those who try to help are themselves at risk, as we have seen with the appalling targeting of health workers in El Fasher. The scale of need is staggering, but the response has been inadequate.

This Council must not look away. I would hope we can all agree on the need for accountability as well as the end goal of reconciliation. We need an independent account of the past to achieve both these goals. There is no other independent mechanism to achieve that goal.

The key outcome of this resolution is the urgent inquiry to be carried out by the UN Fact-Finding Mission. Its efforts to document and preserve evidence of violations and abuses lay the groundwork for justice. Without it, accountability will remain out of reach, and the cycle of impunity will continue.

We also pay tribute to the Sudanese civil society actors who continue to serve their communities under extraordinary pressure. Their courage and resilience are a reminder of the values this Council is meant to uphold.

Mr President,

The strongest tribute that we can all make to their courage is by adopting today’s resolution by consensus.

Let us send a clear signal that the people of Sudan are not forgotten.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2025.

National Statement for the Special Session on Sudan. Delivered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister for International Development and Africa.

Mr President,

We are appalled by the violence and specific targeting of civilians in the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces. The reporting is horrific: ethnically motivated killings, executions, starvation and rape as a weapon of war.

These are not isolated incidents. Ongoing impunity, and reticence from the international community means the conflict in Sudan is now the largest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.

Civilians are experiencing famine and famine-like conditions across Sudan. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continue to obstruct assistance from reaching the over 30 million people who are in need.

The UK has announced an additional £5 million in humanitarian support, bringing our total this year to £125 million.

But aid is not enough. The guns must fall silent. We need a renewed push for peace, a ceasefire backed by global cooperation through the Quad and the UN.

Mr President, there must be accountability and that is not possible without facts. The Fact-Finding Mission is pivotal to establishing the facts surrounding the crimes committed in El Fasher, in order for perpetrators to be held to account.

I urge this Council to show the Sudanese people that they are not forgotten.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2025.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, to welcome guests to celebrate His Majesty King Charles III’s 77th birthday in Islamabad.

The celebration followed an important year for the UK-Pakistan relationship. It saw connectivity between the two countries improve with the lifting of the air safety ban on Pakistani airlines, leading to PIA’s first flight to Manchester in 5 years. This year also saw the UK introduce eVisas for students and workers, making travel easier and strengthening ties.

2025 also saw bilateral trade reach £5.5 billion, crossing the £5 billion mark for the first time. The UK continued its support for Pakistan’s flood recovery efforts, while the launch of the UK–Pakistan Trade Dialogue opened new opportunities in services and innovation.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

“Just as Pakistan is made up of rich and diverse cultures, the UK has incredible diversity through its four nations. And all four of our nations- England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales- have a vital part to play in our partnership with Pakistan.”

The event celebrated the cultural ties between the UK and Pakistan, with guests arriving to music of Bagpipers from the Pakistani Military. There was a special performance from Maria Unera who played a medley of classic British hits from across the four nations.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

Rural, Indigenous, and young women leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay will represent the Great American Chaco at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Rural, Indigenous, and young women leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay will represent the Great American Chaco at COP30, the world’s most important climate summit, with support from the United Kingdom. Their participation is part of the Chaco Project, “Weaving Networks, Building Impact: Collective Synergies for the Gran Chaco Americano,” a UK-funded initiative promoting inclusive, gender-responsive climate action and regional cooperation.

The Great Chaco, South America’s second-largest forested ecoregion after the Amazon, is a region of immense ecological and cultural significance. Home to rich biodiversity and Indigenous communities, it plays a vital role in regional climate resilience. Yet, it faces mounting challenges—including deforestation, poverty, and climate stress. The Chaco Project empowers Indigenous women and youth to take active roles in climate governance—engaging in decision-making processes, shaping policy agendas, and advocating for sustainable land management.

Delegates from the Gran Chaco

The delegation includes six women leaders representing diverse roles and territories across the Gran Chaco:

Argentina

• Ibel Diarte, Youth Representative; Qom Coordinator of the Comar Cooperative; President of the Qomlashepi Association in Fortín Lavalle (Chaco, Argentina); specialist in ICT and youth engagement.
• Tochi Benitez, Chaco Women’s Collective, supports territories in Jujuy.
• Liliana Paniagua, Executive Secretary of Redes Chaco Argentina.

Bolivia

• Arline Dayana Estrada Vaca, Youth Leader from Villa Vaca Guzmán, Bolivian Chaco. She promotes the defense of women’s rights, youth, and the environment.

Paraguay

• Nidia Beatriz Morejuan De Ruiz, advocates for women’s and Indigenous peoples’ rights; Guarani leader; MIPY.
• Teresita Cabrera, Chaco Women’s Collective and Sunu Group.

A Turning Point for Climate Action

COP30 marks a critical moment in the global climate agenda. Hosted in Latin America for the first time in over a decade, and in a country with Chaco territory, this summit offers a unique opportunity to amplify regional voices and accelerate action.

The UK is committed to inclusive climate leadership and supports the participation of grassroots actors in shaping international policy. Through the Chaco Project, the UK is helping Indigenous and young women share traditional ecological knowledge, advocate for sustainable land management, and contribute to the global effort to keep the 1.5°C target within reach. This is essential to avoiding catastrophic climate impacts.

In the words of British Ambassador to Paraguay Danielle Dunne:

Indigenous communities are on the frontlines of climate change. Their leadership and wisdom are essential to protecting biodiversity and building resilient futures

Chaco Project impact: from Territory to Global Stage

With the Chaco Project’s support, over 120 rural, Indigenous, and young women from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay co-developed policy proposals and a shared climate agenda during the Trinational Gathering (30 September – 1 October). This was followed by the 6th World Chaco Summit (2 – 4 October), where more than 600 participants built a roadmap for COP30 through participatory diagnostics.

These collective efforts resulted in concrete contributions to international climate negotiations, including calls for climate finance access, land rights protection, and youth inclusion in national climate strategies—amplifying the voices of communities often left out of global decision-making.

UK Commitment

The UK continues to champion climate action that is inclusive, science-based, and regionally grounded. By supporting the Chaco Project, the UK is helping to elevate Indigenous and youth voices, foster regional cooperation, and promote sustainable development within vulnerable territories.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

Ambassador Holland underlines UK support for the work of the Mission across its three lines of activity, and welcomes recent statements by the Government of Moldova on an action plan for the gradual reintegration of Transnistria.

Thank you, Acting Head of Mission, for the work of your team over the last six months and for helpful presentation this morning. In the spirit of utilising your time to engage in dialogue, allow me to keep this statement brief and ask two questions.

The United Kingdom fully supports the continued work of the Mission across its three lines of action during the reporting period, particularly in promoting dialogue between communities, monitoring in and around the Security Zone, and supporting access of Transnistrian residents to documentation and healthcare services. We reiterate our call for a return to a full 12-month directive to ensure the Mission has the stability and predictability it needs to fulfil its vital role.

The UK reiterates our congratulations to Moldova on the successful conduct of parliamentary elections on 28 September, despite attempts by malign actors to weaponise the information environment and subvert Moldova’s democracy. The UK will continue to support Moldova in defending its democratic institutions from Russian interference – including through our close engagement on cyber, counter-disinformation and judicial cooperation.

The UK also welcomes the recent statements from the Government of Moldova on the announcement of work towards an action plan for the gradual reintegration of Transnistria and the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri. I’d be interested in your views, Acting Head of Mission, on how the OSCE Mission can best support this process.

Secondly, you referenced the high vacancy rate and the challenges in retaining staff. To what extent would agreement of a Unified Budget – even one at Zero Nominal Growth – positively impact the day to day working of the Mission?

In closing, I would like to reiterate that the UK will continue to support the OSCE Mission to Moldova in delivering across all areas of its mandate, and to Moldova’s continued peace and stability.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

UK Statement for Honduras’ Universal Periodic Review. Delivered at the 50th session of the UPR in Geneva.

Thank you, Madame Vice-President.

The United Kingdom welcomes Honduras’s decision to lift the 14-year ban on the use and sale of the emergency contraceptive pill, a significant step for the rights of women and girls. However, we remain concerned by the sustained levels of gender-based violence, including femicide and sexual violence.

We also note with concern the challenges faced by Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in exercising their rights to resolving land tenure conflicts, including criminalisation, threats and violence. The murder of Juan López highlights the urgent need for stronger protections.

As Honduras approaches its election, we are concerned about the continued state of emergency, which increases risks for human rights defenders, journalists and civil society. These risks are compounded by the limited resources of the National Protection Mechanism, including insufficient technical personnel.

We recommend that Honduras:

1. Prioritises the approval of the Comprehensive Special Law on Violence Against Women.
2. Protects indigenous peoples and human right defenders who work on environmental issues through legal reforms and effective enforcement, including safeguarding the right to free, prior and informed consent.
3. Strengthens its National Protection Mechanism through allocating sufficient resources and implementing agile procedures that enable swift delivery of protection measures tailored to those at risk.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, gave a speech at an event marking the 5th anniversary of the Article 18 Alliance held at the Prague Castle, Czechia.

Excellencies, colleagues and friends. It is an honour to follow such powerful and brave speakers, and my privilege to be speaking here today as the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, or FoRB.

Some of you will know of my background before politics, including my work with Tearfund and the Bible Society. Believe me then when I say that the promotion and protection of FoRB is something very close to my heart, as indeed I am sure it is for you too.

It is almost a year since I became UK Special Envoy and, in that time, I have met with a wide range of experts, activists and international partners – many of you here today – to build my understanding of the opportunities we have, to make a difference. This includes through the important work of the Article 18 Alliance, which Robert Řehák has so ably led since 2024.

You are all aware of the scale of the challenge we face globally. But some facts bear repeating.

Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report estimates that over 5.4 billion people, nearly two thirds of the world’s population, live in countries where serious FoRB violations or abuses occur.

According to the Pew Research Centre, the number of countries with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions on FoRB, is at its highest level since 2007. And social hostilities involving religion are also on the rise.

Worsening authoritarianism, including restrictions on the freedom of assembly, war and conflict, and increasing religious nationalism are driving persecution on the basis of religion or belief.

UK FoRB strategy

But in the context of these global challenges, the UK is taking action. In July, the UK launched a new and ambitious FoRB strategy that reflects our belief that FoRB is central to global stability.

Indeed, FoRB demonstrates the core principle that human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

If you have no freedom to worship, you have no freedom of assembly.

If you have no freedom of belief, you have no freedom of conscience.

If you have no freedom to share your faith, you have no freedom of speech.

If you have no freedom to practice your faith or belief you are not equal in dignity and rights.

Our strategy comprises five core strands of work: multilateral advocacy; targeted bilateral engagement; mainstreaming FoRB across our foreign policy; increasing civil society engagement and strengthening coalitions for collective action.

My presence here today, speaking to you now, is a commitment to this last point.

The UK is proud to be a member of this Alliance, as well as the International Contact Group on FoRB. And our resolve remains steadfast in supporting and ensuring that we maintain these groupings.

Celebrating successes of A18A

I am glad to say that the UK has been a committed member since the Alliance’s inception, and together we have achieved remarkable progress. It is right that we celebrate that here today. In just five years, membership has grown from 22 to 38 states, plus friends and observers. This speaks to our shared commitment to FoRB and the value of this platform. I pay tribute to our chairs and members, and of course to Ambassador Brownback.

Our collaboration has delivered real impact. Joint statements have condemned antisemitism; the persecution of Christians and anti-Muslim hatred. The Alliance have challenged violations across the globe, including defending religious freedom in Tibet, Ukraine, and Nicaragua. These actions and more demonstrate the strength of our united stance.

The Working Groups show how states and civil society experts can work together to practically address shared challenges, such as protecting FoRB in the digital age. And the Alliance’s platform now provides a critical central resource for research and best practice, a tool for present and for future advocates.

Most importantly, our efforts have helped to change lives. In 2023, engagement by the Alliance helped secure the release of Hannah Abdimalik in Somaliland, and Shamil Khakimov in Tajikistan.

And I am delighted that Mubarak Bala, and Pastor Lorenzo in Cuba have been able to share their stories here today. The UK was proud to support the campaigns for their release, including through an open letter from our former Foreign Secretary and partnership with Humanists International. These victories remind us that when we act together, we make a real difference.

Looking to the future

Their stories, and those Rushan Abbas has shared with us today underline just how much remains to be done. As we look ahead, our mission must evolve with purpose and urgency.

The scale of the challenge demands collective action. The Article 18 Alliance is not just a coalition of the willing, it is a force for change. I humbly suggest three areas of focus:

First, we must expand our Alliance. The strength of our voice lies in its diversity. As Rushan noted in her intervention, “Silence is the oxygen of tyranny.” Let us actively seek new partners, especially in underrepresented regions. Growth means reach and reach means impact.

Second, we must continue our targeted efforts. Reform of discriminatory laws and championing of individual cases of persecution remain urgent. Let us use every available mechanism; from the UN’s Universal Periodic Review to bilateral diplomacy, to deeper engagement with civil society and human rights defenders, to champion FoRB for all. Our words matter. Our coordinated action matters more.

Third, we must mainstream FoRB in foreign policy. FoRB is not a niche concern; it is central to global stability. It intersects with migration, conflict, and development.

Persecution on the basis of religion or belief drives displacement, fuels extremism, and undermines prosperity. The UK’s strategy recognises this. Let us align our efforts and make FoRB a core pillar of international engagement.

We are many, and we are one. Let us build on what we have started and go further.

In closing, I’d like to call on the words of former US President Jimmy Carter:

Because we are free, we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere.

Thank you