Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on humanitarian personnel.

President, I want to begin by thanking Switzerland for their work to take forward this really important initiative and the collaborative way in which they did it.

We would also like to take the opportunity today to recognise all UN and humanitarian personnel on behalf of the UK for their vital work.

The UK strongly supports the purposes of this resolution. UN and humanitarian workers operate worldwide in extremely difficult and often dangerous conditions, and it is right that we as a Council have today affirmed the protections that they need and deserve.

Crucially the resolution is clear that parties to armed conflicts have obligations to protect local and national aid workers, as well as UN and international humanitarian personnel, and we call on all Member States to facilitate their work and support their efforts.

Local and national aid workers are essential in efforts to reach the most vulnerable, and who often run significant risks to their own lives to help save the lives of others.

We welcome the strong language reaffirming the importance of International Humanitarian Law, as well as the need to focus on protection from the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence.

And finally, we welcome the resolution’s focus on addressing misinformation and disinformation and encourage further steps to counter this increasing threat to UN and humanitarian staff.

We look forward to seeing the recommendations in the Secretary-General’s report and remain committed to taking forward this important agenda.

I thank you.

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

Lord Benyon, Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy, gave the UK’s national statement at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference.

Thank you, Prime Minister Browne, Secretary-General Guterres and your teams, for bringing us together on this beautiful island.

Before I say anything else, I just want to recognise the terrible loss of life from the landslide in Papua New Guinea. We remain with the Government of Papua New Guinea and all those affected in this terrible event. It focuses our mind on what we’re here to do.

Formally, SIDS’ unique position has been acknowledged for decades. And I’d like to take this opportunity of recognising the presence here in some numbers, representatives of the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories, many of whom are SIDS and deserve to be considered as part of the solutions we find.

While formally SIDS’ unique position has been acknowledged, we’re yet to see the way forward for you, and we need to hear you speak up, as you are doing very forcefully at this event – persistently and powerfully – to make sure the world really understands what it means to see things from your perspective.

So, it is up to all of us to make a sincere effort to do so – and then to take action.

For our part, the United Kingdom is helping Antigua to host this conference, and Samoa to host the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government meeting later this year.

We’re working hard to make sure the support we offer SIDS takes your specific needs into account – and that we work in partnership with you in addressing them.

And for all of us, we should be asking ourselves 3 vital questions, to check whether we have been listening.

First, do our systems reflect the unique circumstances of SIDS?

Prime Minister Browne, Prime Minister Fiame Mata’afa and the UK team have showcased the work that we have led with SIDS and the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee. Crucially, it includes an agreement to look into how vulnerability could be integrated into the OECD’s DAC ODA policy and processes, including on graduation.

I know the current system creates real problems for SIDS. And frankly, the way we do aid does not work for some of the world’s most vulnerable, and that’s something that’s inherently wrong with the system.

Second, are we offering enough funding?

Last year, Britain announced an additional £1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund. That’s our biggest single aid commitment to help tackle climate change.

Earlier this month, we announced that £25 million of our new support for Antimicrobial Resistance will be for work in the Caribbean region. And last week, our Foreign Secretary pledged a further £200 million to build on our landmark Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.

And we continue to press international financial institutions to stretch their balance sheets, so the aid that we and other donors give to them goes as far as it can – and has a real impact when it gets there.

The final test is the most important: can SIDS actually access the money?

Over the years, so many of you have said “we keep hearing announcements about green finance, but it seems so hard to get hold of it.”

We are using our programme funding to boost technical assistance to SIDS. And we want to make sure all of you can harness expertise, to get the cash you need from the international finance system, and spend it effectively – be that cleaning up marine pollution, or making infrastructure better to withstand a cyclone.

I hope you sense that the UK is listening, and that we are taking action.

Together, we can support the communities, the biodiversity, the incredible natural beauty of the islands around the world – and it is going to take all of us to see this through.

Thank you very much.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UK-hosted UN Arria meeting on youth and children in Myanmar.

Thank you, excellencies, colleagues for joining today’s Arria-formula meeting on the situation in Myanmar.

Last May, we held an Arria focused on Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis. In a span of 12 months, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has risen from 17.6 million to 18.6 million. The number of internally displaced persons is now 3 million, in comparison to 1.8 million in 2023.

Myanmar’s youth and children are bearing the brunt of this crisis, triggered by the military coup and their repression of the civilian population. More than half are out of school, routine vaccinations are being disrupted, and with food insecurity on the rise, there is a risk that many will suffer from childhood malnutrition.

So what can we do to shift the trajectory and protect Myanmar’s children and future generations?

First, the international community needs to pay greater attention to the worsening levels of food insecurity. More than 13 million people in Myanmar are projected to fall into acute food insecurity this year. Babies will not receive the necessary nutrients to grow up healthy while children may be pushed to join armed groups or forced to be married to reduce the burden on their families. The United Kingdom has helped support 1.8 million people with nutrition and livelihood support in 2023. We call on others to urgently ramp up their response.

Second, there needs to be greater access to education and health services, including through localised delivery partners to ensure we reach all those in need. Through local providers, the UK has helped support half a million women and children to access maternal, newborn, and child health services. And last year, we helped facilitate education to over 200,000 children, of whom more than half were girls.

And finally, it is deeply concerning that nearly 150 children are estimated to have been killed in Myanmar in the first five months of 2024. We are also following reports of forced recruitment, increased violence, and displacement in Rakhine State, affecting all civilians, including Rohingya, Rakhine, and other ethnic communities. Unified messaging underlining the critical need for all parties to protect civilians, including children, is urgently needed. As per ASEAN’s latest review of the five-point consensus, we call on the Myanmar Armed Forces in particular, to stop targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and healthcare facilities. And we reiterate the Security Council’s demand for an immediate end to all forms of violence as set out in Resolution 2669.

Now, today, we will hear perspectives from Myanmar’s youth and children, as well as from UNICEF Emergency Operations Director, Lucia Elmi. I would now like to turn my colleagues’ attention to the screen to hear the invaluable voices of Myanmar’s future generation.

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

Following North Korea’s failed satellite launch on 27 May, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson gave a statement.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea’s failed satellite launch on 27 May is another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to stop such provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on women, peace and security and youth.

Thank you, President, and let me thank Mozambique for convening this meeting. I’m also grateful to all our briefers for their remarks today.

As they have set out, it is critical that we move from commitments to concrete actions on women, peace and security and youth, peace and security.

I will set out three broad priorities.

First: participation. We know that women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation – as leaders, negotiators and peacebuilders – greatly enhances the chances of long-lasting peace.

We are working to make this a reality. Through the Peacebuilding Fund, the UK is supporting women and youth initiatives, including in Liberia, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. We recently launched a programme of over $900,000 supporting women peacebuilders including in South Sudan and elsewhere.

We fund Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth, a group of 50 conflict mediators engaged in conflict prevention. For example, Commonwealth members from West Africa are working with women and communities in Niger, leading innovative solutions to stop conflict before it starts.

We want to see this expertise being used at scale, with networks of women mediators and grassroots women’s organisations engaged across all issues on this Council’s agenda.

Second: empowerment. By amplifying the voices of those most affected by conflict, we can better address and mitigate its impacts. During the UK presidency last year, we supported the first child civil society representative to address this Council in person. Last week, my minister convened a roundtable in London of girls from South Sudan, DRC, Ukraine and the West Bank to hear their thoughts on the most pressing needs of children in conflict settings.

Our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative prioritises the voices of survivors and puts them at the heart of decision-making, including through a Survivor Advisory Group.

Third: protection. Women and young people disproportionately bear the brunt of conflict. For children who grow up in war, the scars of conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence, remain into their youth and well beyond.

The UK’s Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence is dedicated to addressing the urgent challenges faced by this vulnerable group. It includes commitments to action from the UK, Canada and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President, the Summit of the Future and the New Agenda for Peace provide opportunities to advance our collective efforts to prevent conflict. Let us commit to moving from words to action, to empower women and youth, and take decisive steps to a more just and equitable future. I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 May 2024.

The British Ambassador to Guatemala Nick Whittingham visited Quetzaltenango on 23 May to strengthen ties with the new authorities and advance UK priorities.

Ambassador Whittingham engaged with government officials, civil society, and private sector.  He reinforced the UK commitment to addressing shared priorities on boosting economic development, promoting democratic values and accountability, and tackling climate change.

The Ambassador met with the Governor of Quetzaltenango, Aldo Herrera Scheel; and the Mayor, Juan Fernando López.  He highlighted the opportunities to continue boosting trade through the UK-Central America Association Agreement, the possibility of sharing UK experiences in sectors such as agriculture, green-infrastructure and financial services, and the impact of UK assistance on protecting the environment and reducing poverty in rural communities.

With representatives of the private sector, Ambassador Whittingham learnt more about the work of the Management Groups and their role in promoting local economic development, with the aim of improving the standard of living of the population, through the generation of jobs and increased income. He also visited the production plant of Ron Zacapa, the emblematic Guatemalan rum, which is distilled in the highlands of Quetzaltenango 2,300 metres above sea level.

Finally, the Ambassador visited Association 32 Volcanoes jointly with the organization Rescue the Planet to promote initiatives amongst youngsters that could reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, and to share ideas on small steps that could contribute to preserve forests and water sources.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

Today [Tuesday 21 May] Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to his counterpart Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Austria on tackling illegal migration.

The leaders agreed that it must be the governments deciding who enters our countries, not criminal gangs, and stronger action must be taken to end the vile people smuggling trade.

The leaders committed to implementing stronger frameworks to deal with migration, and that new innovative solutions are crucial to this end.

The leaders agreed that working with designated safe third countries are part of the solution for best protecting Europe from irregular migratory pressures and preventing people from making illegal, dangerous journeys – such as the Rwanda style model.

In that respect, the Leaders agreed that States may develop and implement solutions to securing their borders and dealing with challenges like migration, while maintaining full compatibility with international law. They welcomed the new procedures relating to Rule 39 interim measures adopted by the European Court of Human Rights, following consultations with State parties. As already noted in the Izmir Declaration in 2011, it is essential, when examining cases related to asylum and immigration, to assess and take full account of the effectiveness of domestic procedures and, where these procedures are seen to operate fairly and with respect for human rights, that the Court should avoid intervening except in the most exceptional circumstances.

The leaders are acutely aware of dangers of the efforts other actors will take in instrumentalising migrants to destabilise Europe and agreed more needed to be done to secure our borders and strengthen our security.

Both think the answers lay with deeper partnerships with others, and increasing cooperation with countries involved in all stages of the migrant journey was essential to tackling this growing pan-European challenge.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

The UK and Finland have signed a strategic partnership declaring Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability.

• UK and Finland set out commitment to bolster ties and highlight risk of Russian aggression for European security
• Foreign Secretary will sign new Strategic Partnership with Finnish counterpart to deepen bilateral cooperation
• Declaration sets out the 2 countries’ ambition to work together on global security challenges and support Ukraine until the war is won

Finland and the UK will declare Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability in a new Strategic Partnership signed today.

The agreement, which will bolster the relationship between the 2 countries, will be endorsed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen at an event in London.

The UK and Finland already share a long history of defence cooperation, including through military exercises and training, with the UK instrumental in securing Finland’s NATO accession. Today’s renewed partnership will expand cooperation across a range of other areas.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said:

As long-standing partners and new NATO Allies, the UK’s relationship with Finland is going from strength to strength.

As we stand together to support Ukraine, including through providing military aid and training, we are clear that the threat of Russian aggression, following the war it started, will not be tolerated.

This Strategic Partnership, built on our shared values, will see the UK and Finland step up cooperation to bolster European security as well as seize new opportunities, from science and technology to closer energy ties.

A joint statement between the 2 foreign ministers will set out how Russia’s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security environment.

It will underline the importance of the bilateral partnership, working together to deny Russia any benefit from the war it started, counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber activities, and hybrid threats, and support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation.

The text will also outline the shared ambition to scale up collaboration on science and technology, trade and investment and tackling illegal migration.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Thank you, President. Let me start by thanking Mozambique for convening this important debate and thank all our briefers, today, for their powerful presentations.

The Secretary-General’s latest report on the protection of civilians presents a stark picture: a 72% increase in civilian deaths in armed conflict from 2022 to 2023; 117 million people experiencing conflict-related hunger; and a ten-fold increase in persons with disabilities in Ukraine due to conflict.

The United Kingdom is also concerned about escalating violence in El Fasher, Sudan, the deaths of civilians in Israel and Gaza, and the shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence in the central Sahel and the DRC, among many other grave situations.

We should reverse these trends by taking a comprehensive approach to protection.  I wish to make three points today.

Firstly, warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and uphold their obligations to protect civilians. They must respect the special rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children affected by conflict. We call on states to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This includes in Sudan where the UK’s atrocity monitoring work investigates attacks against civilians and infrastructure, and monitors hate speech and incitement of violence across the country.

Second, we urge all states to take practical steps to improve international humanitarian law implementation, which in turn will enhance protection. The UK is updating our voluntary report on domestic implementation of IHL, with a strong focus on the protection of civilians. We encourage others to undertake similar exercises.

Third, the protection of civilians should always be prioritised in peacekeeping missions. The UK is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, and our programming is increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about missions. We call on member states to deepen their support to peacekeepers to ensure that UN peacekeeping remains an effective tool to protect civilians.

President, to conclude, I stress the importance of working to prevent conflict. And I note that in his long list of events in Ukraine, our Russian colleague forgot to mention the fact that this all could have been avoided without the illegal invasion and aggression against Ukraine.

We must invest in anticipating the risks, working in partnership with national governments and local organisations to address the drivers of conflict. Progress in this area would go some way to ending the harm facing civilians around the world.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2024.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, visited Maldives to build closer links on maritime security, climate, and trade.

UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Maldives on 9 May for the first UK ministerial visit to the country in two years.

During the visit, Minister Trevelyan held talks with Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. Topics focused on opportunities for closer bilateral and regional cooperation including on justice reform, climate change, the security sector, trade and maritime security.

With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s priority of growing the UK’s economy.

Minister Trevelyan met Maldivian and British businesses operating in Maldives and discussed opportunities to further strengthen trade and commercial links between the UK and Maldives.

Minister Trevelyan also met with female judges in Maldives to hear about the impact of UK programmes to support the justice sector, and understand the challenges faced by female judges.

The Minister also visited the first, UK-backed marine plastics lab in Maldives where she met beneficiaries of UK programmes.