Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

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

Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

We thank Eritrea for presenting its National Report, and we welcome some progress on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including action to tackle Female Genital Mutilation and to promote access to clean water and sanitation.

However, much more needs to be done to ensure the human rights of Eritrea’s people are fully promoted and protected. Meaningful change at pace is urgently needed, and we stand ready to assist.

We recommend that Eritrea:

1. Cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, including through enabling access to the country.
2. Investigate the social impact of national service, including developing schemes that promote access to employment following the completion of the mandated national service.
3. Implement the Constitution proposed by President Isaias over a decade ago, involving the participation of an elected legislature, independent media and a free and open civil society.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

The two-day visit will strengthen UK-Bangladesh modern economic, security and migration partnership.

• Minister for the Indo-Pacific visit will strengthen UK-Bangladesh modern economic, security and migration partnership
• UK will back economic development efforts with launch of new trade policy project in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh
• New UK funding of £12 million ($15 million) announced will provide vital humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar

UK-Bangladesh cooperation set to increase on priority areas including migration, economic reform and security, as UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will arrive in Bangladesh on a two-day visit, today morning (Tuesday 7 May). On her second visit to Bangladesh in her role as Indo-Pacific Minister, she will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During her visit to Dhaka, Minister Trevelyan will meet Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. Discussions are expected to focus on UK-Bangladesh migration cooperation, trade and economic ties, and the UK’s support to the Rohingya refugee response.

The Minister will also meet business leaders, humanitarian actors, climate experts and, in meetings with civil society organisations and political leaders, she will recognise the importance of democracy and human rights as foundations for long-term growth and prosperity. Minister Trevelyan will also announce new UK support to equip and empower youth and vulnerable groups in Bangladesh to engage in climate action.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said

“I’m pleased to be back in Bangladesh with our new trade policy project marking an important step forward towards closer UK-Bangladesh collaboration, boosting our economic ties.

“We remain steadfast in our support for the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and will provide £12 million of new humanitarian assistance, to increase access to clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection services for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.”

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said

“Delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to Bangladesh. The UK’s long-standing friendship with Bangladesh is cemented by the deep cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries.

“The UK-Bangladesh partnership continues to go from strength to strength. From our joint work to tackle economic challenges, to our steadfast support for the Rohingya, and our partnership on climate change, we are determined to do more together.”

Reaffirming the UK’s sustained support for the Rohingya people, Minister Trevelyan will announce £12 million (over 163 Crore Taka) of new UK humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh. The new funding will provide clean water, healthcare, shelter and protection services. It will also support the development of the camp’s infrastructure to help protect it from natural disasters.

Minister Trevelyan will also announce a new trade policy project with the Government of Bangladesh. The UK will provide technical assistance to Bangladesh to strengthen trade policy capability and implement reforms. The project will support Bangladesh tackle economic challenges and graduate successfully from Least Developed Country status in 2026.

Note to editors

The new package of funding to support Rohingya refugees totals £12 million. This assistance will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Since 2017, the UK has provided £391 million ($487 million) to support the Rohingya, and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

London hosts to the UK-Germany Cultural Commission for the first time in over 30 years, and Minister for Europe emphasises culture’s role in Ukraine war.

• UK-German Cultural Commission held in London for the first time in over 30 years, hosted by the Minister for Europe, and German counterpart
• Minister Ghani will emphasise the importance of celebrating national culture in Europe as Russia attempts to erase Ukrainian identity
• event follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany where he hailed the opening of a ‘new chapter’ in the UK-Germany relationship

For the first time in 30 years, London will play host to the UK-Germany Cultural Commission today (7 May), where the Minister for Europe will open the forum by emphasising culture’s role in Russia’s war with Ukraine, through which Putin is working to erase Ukrainian cultural identity.

Minister Nusrat Ghani, herself sanctioned by Russia, will also highlight the importance of celebrating and preserving cultural heritage alongside European neighbours.

A forum established in 1958 – and revived in Germany last year – the UK-Germany Cultural Commission sets the agenda for joint cultural cooperation between the two nations.

Joining UK and German organisations and colleagues, Minister Ghani will co-chair the event at Lancaster House with German Foreign Office Minister of State Katja Keul.

They will champion the strong links between the 2 countries, from language and education exchange, to this year’s European Football Championship, which will see 500,000 UK fans visiting Germany.

Minister for Europe, Nusrat Ghani said:

From football to Bauhaus, the UK and Germany are inextricably linked through our culture, and these ties help form the foundation of our close alliance.

When national identities are threatened, our culture – the customs and institutions that define us – becomes even more important.

As Russia seeks to wipe Ukrainian culture off the face of our continent, we cannot stand idly by and must stand with our partners in solidarity with Ukraine, their identity and their people.

The Commission follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany earlier this month, during which he declared the opening of a ‘new chapter’ in the UK-Germany relationship, and announced a strengthening of the two nations’ position against Russian aggression, as well as discussing mobility and migration with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The forum will also see Ministers, officials, and cultural organisations – such as the Goethe Institute and British Council – discuss the promotion of German language learning in the UK, co-operation in higher education and research, the protection of cultural heritage, and the importance of mobility between the UK and Germany.

The UK and German governments will also celebrate the ongoing work to boost student exchanges between our schools, this year significantly increasing funding for UK German Connection – a bilateral organisation that facilitates youth and school exchange.

Several high-profile cultural figures with German and British connections will also be in attendance – including DCMS Minister Lord Parkinson, and illustrator of the iconic children’s book The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler. Delegates will enjoy a performance by young poets from Saxony and Manchester, who are part of the Cultural Bridge programme.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair Lord Pickles welcomed the transformation of the former concentration camp from an industrial pig farm to a memorial.

It is a real honour to be here today.

I can recall many a heated discussion at IHRA plenaries about the indignity of having a pig farm on a site near the mass graves of 300 people from the Roma community who had been murdered by the Nazis and collaborators.

We have to acknowledge that disregarding the site and unmarked mass graves in favour of the farm was an attempt by some to forget this dark chapter in Czechia’s history. For others, it symbolized the persistence of anti-Roma sentiment in Czech society and in many parts of Europe.

Being here today at the official opening of Lety clearly shows how far the Czechia has come government has come and its friends rejoice at the opening of the memorial.

Since 2014 IHRA has been involved in the transformation of Lety from the pig farm it once was to the memorial it is today. IHRA have regularly raised with both the Czech authorities and IHRA member countries the need for a respectful place of commemoration at Lety.

After decades of campaigning by local activists and increased efforts by the IHRA, the pig farm was redeemed by the Czech government and acquired by the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno.

In 2019, the Museum of Romani Culture was awarded an IHRA grant to develop a concept for the exhibition for the Lety memorial. This exhibition not only covers the history of the concentration camp, but also works to prevent false assumptions on the purpose of the camp and the conditions of the victims and to counter any new denial of the genocide of the Roma as well as antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination.

I am pleased that IHRA’s experts remained actively involved as the new memorial complex was designed. This includes IHRA’s Safeguarding Sites team which visited Lety last June.

IHRA is immensely proud that all member countries adopted the Safeguarding Sites Charter and that Lety stands today as a proud representation of our safeguarding efforts.

It is an honour to see how we have all worked together to ensure that the victims of the Roma genocide are remembered.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to praise the Czech government for recently adopting the IHRA working definition of antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination.

I encourage you now to look at further practical steps to address the long-term discrimination that the Roma community continue to face in this country. Examples include the difficulty Roma people face in accessing compensation for forced sterilisation, and segregation of Roma children in schools. These are legacies of the genocide which need to be eradicated, and learnt from.

This is an important day for acknowledging the dark moments of the past but looking towards a brighter future. I look forward to continued closer co-operation between the IHRA and Czechia. Thank you, all, for your continued leadership.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

Mr Ramin Navai has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador in succession to Mr David Lelliott OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Navai will take up his appointment during December 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ramin Navai

Date	Role
2020 to date	Asunción, His Majesty’s Ambassador
2018 to 2020	FCO, Deputy Head, Counter Daesh Communications Cell, Communications Directorate
2015 to 2018	FCO, Head of Programme Team, Syria Unit, Middle East & Near Africa Directorate
2010 to 2015	Chicago, Deputy Consul General
2006 to 2010	Bogotá, 2nd Sec Political
2004 to 2006	Home Office, Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre
2003 to 2004	FCO, Cuba, Haiti & Dominican Republic Desk Officer, Latin America and Caribbean Department
2002 to 2003	FCO, G8 Desk Officer, Economic Policy Department

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

The UK, US and Australia have sanctioned the Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit.

• UK, US and Australia sanction Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit
• LockBit were one of the most prolific ransomware groups in recent years, responsible for attacks on over 200 UK businesses and major public service providers
• UK and Allies crack down on malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seeks to undermine global integrity, prosperity and security

The UK, US and Australia have today (Tuesday 7 May) sanctioned a senior Russia-based leader of LockBit, once one of the world’s most pernicious cybercrime gangs.

Today’s sanctions target Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev who has been identified, as part of an ongoing international law enforcement investigation, as one of the leaders of LockBit, the ransomware group responsible for extorting over $1 billion from thousands of victims globally.

In February the NCA announced that it had infiltrated the group’s network and taken control of its services, compromising the entire criminal enterprise. The group has attempted to rebuild over the last 2 months, however the NCA assesses that as a result of this investigation, they are currently running at limited capacity and the global threat from LockBit has significantly reduced.

The gang was responsible for 25% of ransomware attacks globally last year, targeting thousands of victims over the years including over 200 UK businesses. LockBit orchestrated a malicious online campaign, illegally stealing and using sensitive data to extract billions of dollars from business and individuals.

Today’s measures will directly target a senior leader of the gang responsible for these atrocious attacks. Khoroshev will now be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

Sanctions Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Together with our allies we will continue to crack down on hostile cyber activity which is destroying livelihoods and businesses across the world.

In sanctioning one of the leaders of LockBit we are taking direct action against those who continue to threaten global security, while simultaneously exposing the malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia.

National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar said:

These sanctions are an important moment in our fight against cyber criminals behind the LockBit ransomware group, which is now on its knees following our disruption earlier this year.

They have caused untold damage to schools, hospitals and major companies across the world, who’ve had to pick up the pieces following devastating cyber attacks.

Dmitry Khoroshev thought he was beyond reproach, even offering $10 million to anyone who could reveal his identity, but these actions dispel that myth. Our investigation into LockBit and its affiliates continues and, working with our international partners, we’ll do everything we can to undermine their operations and protect the public.

Eleanor Fairford, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Deputy Director for Incident Management, said:

Ransomware attacks pose a massive threat to UK businesses and their impacts can be severe and long-lasting, disrupting operations and putting potentially sensitive data at risk.

It is crucial organisations ensure they have strong online defences to reduce their risk of falling victim and to protect the information they are responsible for.

Prevention is the most effective mitigation, and we urge all organisations to follow the NCSC’s ⁠ransomware guidance to help protect their networks and improve their resilience to attacks.

The UK has sanctioned Khoroshev as part of our wider commitment to cracking down on malicious cyber activity and working with our international partners to promote international security and stability in cyberspace.

These sanctions have been delivered jointly with Australia and the US and are the latest in our efforts to counter malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seek to undermine the integrity, prosperity and security of the UK and our allies.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum.

Thank you, President.

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

We look forward to the Finance for Development conference next year as a pivotal opportunity for us to take stock of progress we’ve made, rally behind new critical collective actions and build consensus on further reforms.

Closing the financing gap to rescue the SDGs matters for all our 2030 Agenda objectives. From eradicating poverty to tackling climate change to promoting peace.

To close the gap, we need a build a bigger, better, and fairer financial system which is more responsive to the needs of developing countries and reflects the realities of the challenges we face today.

Firstly, we need to scale up finance from all sources, including the private sector and from MDBs.

Last week at the Springs, the United Kingdom pledged $125 million in hybrid capital to the World Bank. We did so alongside other donors and through leveraging our collective contributions could unlock an additional $70 billion of World Bank lending over the next decade.

Next, we must go further, including on stretching MDBs’ balance sheets and delivering an ambitious IDA replenishment.

The system must be more effective and shock responsive. We call on all creditors to offer climate resilient debt clauses, which pause debt repayments when disaster strikes, providing space for developing countries to respond.

And finally, it must be fairer too. This means greater representation and voice for the poorest and most vulnerable, including at the World Bank and IMF boards, tackling illicit financial flows, and helping countries access the revenues they are owed from tax.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN General Assembly debate on the Outer Space Treaty.

On 24 April, the Security Council voted on a resolution tabled by the United States and Japan, which reaffirmed our commitment to the Outer Space Treaty. Thirteen Member States voted in favour. One, the Russian Federation, used its veto.

Outer space belongs to all humankind and space technologies are critical to our daily lives. From using maps and checking the weather on our phones, to international shipping and large-scale disaster risk reduction programmes, the far-reaching applications of space technologies are embedded in all of our economies.

For this reason, we need to protect and regulate the safe use of space, while taking appropriate steps to prevent it becoming the backdrop of the next arms race.

To that end, this draft resolution would have reaffirmed the existing obligation not to place nuclear weapons in orbit around the Earth. It also called on states not to develop nuclear weapons specifically designed for such purposes. After all, if states intend, as they must, to comply with the Outer Space Treaty, they shouldn’t be preparing to breach it.

The detonation of even a single nuclear weapon in space could destroy or permanently damage a significant proportion of satellites in orbit around Earth. The resultant radiation and debris would render many orbits unusable for a very long time. There would be highly disruptive and possibly life-threatening consequences for those essential applications, maps, weather, risk-monitoring, which would affect all states, not least developing nations.

The UK therefore voted in favour of this resolution.

There was nothing in this resolution that any law-abiding state committed to peace and the prevention of an arms race in outer space could reasonably object to.

And yet Russia did.

This is not the first, but the second draft Council resolution on nuclear non-proliferation which Russia has vetoed in just one month.

Russia vetoed the DPRK Panel of Experts’ mandate – despite, or rather, because of the Panel’s proven track record of exposing DPRK’s dangerous nuclear and missile programmes, in violation of Security Council resolutions.

Russia’s actions cannot be interpreted any other way. They are seeking to undermine the global non-proliferation architecture, and this should be of grave concern to us all.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

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

Thank you, Madame Vice President.

We welcome the recent steps taken by Slovakia to reduce the  segregation of Roma children from mainstream education, though we note the persistent, systemic discrimination this minority faces.

We are concerned over recent reports that the protection of journalists in Slovakia is deteriorating. Many now face verbal attacks – including from politicians – and physical violence. It is also worrying how frequent the criminal offence of defamation is used to intimidate journalists and media outlets.

The various reported threats to the reproductive and sexual health rights of women in Slovakia is also of concern, especially the legislative attempts to further restrict access to safe abortions.

We recommend that Slovakia:

1. Adopts legislative measures aimed at protecting the safety of journalists and increasing media freedom, including repeal of defamation as a criminal offence.
2. Ensures access to safe abortion by removing legislative and non-legislative barriers, and protecting – rather than restricting – existing rights in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
3. Takes steps to protect journalists and human rights defenders from violence, harassment and intimidation – including from politicians – and to investigate all such incidents to enable such actors to carry out their activities in safe conditions.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

The UK’s statement at Comoros’ Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

The UK welcomes continued efforts to improve Comoros’ human rights situation, particularly efforts to improve maternal and child mortality rates, women’s rights and combating violence against women.

However, we note the allegations of fraud in relation to Comoros’ recent elections, which have damaged public confidence. We also remain concerned about continued restrictions to civic space and media freedom.

We welcome positive provisions in Comoros’ Family Code but remain concerned by the continued lack of rights and protections for the LGBT+ community, and the continued practice of child marriage.

We recommend that Comoros:

1. Take concrete steps based on open and inclusive public consultations to improve confidence in its electoral institutions, ahead of elections in 2025.
2. Remove restrictions on civic space, including the requirement for prior approval of peaceful demonstrations.
3. Repeal legislation criminalising homosexuality and ensure equal rights and protections for members of the LGBT+ community in Comoros.

Thank you.