Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2024.

HRC55 Item 2 General Debate: Sri Lanka. Core Group Statement delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

This statement is on behalf of the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

High Commissioner,

There have been several important legislative developments regarding human rights, reconciliation and civic space. Unfortunately, some of these developments give cause for concern.

The Online Safety Act has the potential to severely restrict online communication and could potentially criminalise nearly all forms of expression, creating an environment that has a chilling effect on freedom of expression. We urge the government to enact amendments to align the Act with Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations and commitments.

We continue to call for the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to be replaced with legislation that is consistent with Sri Lanka’s international obligations. We acknowledge the recent release of nine Tamil leaders detained last November.  We encourage the release of unjustly held long-term PTA detainees and for Sri Lanka to maintain a moratorium on its use.

While we note the government’s efforts to establish a Commission on Truth, Unity and Reconciliation, we stress the importance of an inclusive participatory process to build trust in advance of any legislation. Any future commission must be independent, inclusive, meaningful, and transparent, meet the expectations of affected communities, build upon previous transitional justice processes, and provide pathways for accountability.

As the government brings forward other legislation with potentially serious implications for fundamental freedoms and civic space, we encourage comprehensive consultations with stakeholders, including civil society, and due legislative process.

We welcome the government’s stated commitments on land releases but note with concern reports of increased tensions around land seizures in the north and, particularly, the east of the country.

High Commissioner,

We urge the government to engage with you and your office to address these and other challenges, and we remain ready to support Sri Lanka in addressing HRC resolution 51/1.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2024.

Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst KCVO, CBE has been appointed Governor of Gibraltar in succession to Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL. Sir Ben Bathurst will take up his appointment during June 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Benjamin John Bathurst

Dates	Role
2024 to present	Pre-posting activities, plus voluntary role as Army Commissioner for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
2020 to 2023	Brussels, UK Delegation to NATO, UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU
2016 to 2019	London, Major General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District
2015 to 2016	London, Royal College of Defence Studies
2014 to 2015	Kabul, Senior British Military Representative-Afghanistan
2011 to 2014	Army Headquarters, Andover, Director Training (Army)
2010 to 2011	Pirbright, Commander, Initial Training Group
2008 to 2009	Baghdad, Deputy Director Strategy Policy & Assessment
2006 to 2008	Ministry of Defence, Director Public Relations (Army)
2004 to 2006	St Athan, Wales; Maysan, Iraq; London: Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards
2003 to 2004	Baghdad, Deputy Combined Joint Operations 5
2001 to 2003	Ministry of Defence, NATO and EU Policy
1999 to 2001	Ministry of Defence, Equipment Capability Anti-Armour Systems
1987 to 2000	Appointments/Detachments from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards   with 4 tours of Northern Ireland; Bosnia; Belize; Canada; Germany
1987	Commissioned into Welsh Guards from Sandhurst

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2024.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Thomas Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Thank you President and thank you Director Ebo for your comprehensive briefing this morning.

President, as we heard from Director Ebo this morning, the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team released its fourth report on 22 February.

This latest report attributed responsibility to Daesh for a sulphur mustard attack in Marea on 1 September 2015.

We commend the continued professionalism and expertise of the IIT and we condemn this confirmed use of chemical weapons in Syria by Daesh.

The UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism and the OPCW have now confirmed nine uses of chemical weapons by the Assad regime; and four by Daesh.

Any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere at any time is unacceptable.

And we regret that we cannot exclude the possibility of further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime or by non-state actors in Syria.

President, Syria continues to fail to fulfil its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and under this Council’s Resolution 2118.

As we have said many times in this chamber, the outstanding issues with Syria’s initial chemical weapons declaration that Director Ebo covered this morning are not academic.

They include the fate of several hundred tonnes of chemical warfare agents and thousands of chemical munitions.

Instability in the region increases the risk of proliferation of chemical weapons to non-state actors.

We need to remain focused on the risk that non-state actors develop, acquire or use chemical weapons.

All states should meet their obligations under Resolution 1540 to ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction as well as their means of delivery.

President, Syria’s obstructive behaviour and failure to declare in full its chemical weapons stockpile gives no grounds for confidence in Syria’s handling of the chemicals and precursors that we know it retains.

At the Chemical Weapons Convention Conference of States Parties in November 2023, states parties adopted a Decision on ‘Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use and the Threat of Future Use.’

Despite the spin that our Russian colleagues attempted to put on this decision, its function was very clear.

It recommends that States Parties review and enhance domestic measures on the transfer of toxic dual use chemicals and materials to Syria; and secondly, it calls on states parties to strengthen cooperation at the OPCW on tackling the threat of chemical weapon use by non-state actors.

President, in the week in which Russia has called a Security Council meeting on the NATO intervention in Yugoslavia that took place 25 years ago, it’s rich that our Russian colleagues say that these meetings are pointless.

Because until Syria cooperates constructively and transparently with the OPCW, until Syria grants unfettered access to the OPCW Declaration Assessment Team and until Syria fully declares and destroys its chemical weapons, this Council should also remain focused on this clear ongoing threat to international peace and security.

Thank you President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2024.

The UK has allocated £1.5 million for International Planned Parenthood Federation which has provided sexual and reproductive health services for vulnerable women and girls in Ukraine.

The UK has allocated £1.5 million for International Planned Parenthood Federation which has provided sexual health and reproductive health services for the most vulnerable women and girls in Ukraine.

These services have helped protect the most at risk by ensuring they have access to vital sexual and reproductive healthcare, including mobile clinics and access to safe abortion care. This funding has supported over 20,000 people to access vital medical care since July 2022 and provided sexual health information to over 100,000 people.

The UK has already pledged over £4.7 billion in non-military support to Ukraine, including £357 million in humanitarian assistance since the start of full-scale invasion. This vital funding includes activities addressing the specific needs of women and girls living in conflict zones, including life-saving assistance to help tackle gender-based violence, safe spaces, mobile medical clinics, and sexual and reproductive health services.

As part of her work as a champion of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the Duchess of Edinburgh spoke via video message at the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference, alongside First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. Her Royal Highness called for survivors to receive holistic support, for their voices to be heard and for survivors’ rights to remain at the heart of international work to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence and ensure justice and accountability.

Addressing the conference via video, the Duchess of Edinburgh said:

Survivors here and around the world have spoken out so bravely about their experiences. They are the most powerful advocates who remind us all that we must not turn our backs on the horrors of this crime, we must never forget the survivors.

Rather, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict. Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.

The UK is working with international partners to hold those responsible to account. In addition to providing financial and technical assistance to the International Criminal Court, we have deployed specialist UK war crimes and conflict related sexual violence experts to the region, and created an expert Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group with the EU and US.

Speaking at the Conference via video, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon is expected to say:

The commitment of our Ukrainian colleagues and the courage demonstrated by ordinary citizens in the most challenging of circumstances are truly inspiring.

The UK will continue to support them, including through the Office of the Prosecutor General, to secure accountability for the perpetrators, and  justice for survivors.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

UK statement for the Enhanced Interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in the Sudan (with assistance of designated Expert). Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Madame Vice-President,

This statement is on behalf of the Core Group for Sudan – Germany, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Thank you, High Commissioner and Mr Nouicer, for your continued reporting on the situation in Sudan to this Council, and your engagement with the warring parties and other key actors to push for an end to the fighting.

Madame Vice-President,

We welcome the strong statements from the international community condemning the continued violence and supporting the need for accountability, including the latest resolution from the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, which welcomed the establishment of the Fact Finding Mission.

The situation in Sudan is catastrophic.  No part of the country, or indeed any neighbouring country, has been unaffected.  We again call on the leaderships of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to stop the fighting, end the obstruction of humanitarian assistance, implement immediately the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, and start talking peace rather than waging war.

We will continue to support all efforts to silence the guns and achieve justice, particularly those by the UN, African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Sudanese civilians and other key actors, in the hope that Sudan might finally know a lasting peace and a democratic future, with full respect for human rights.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

Anne Sherriff has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium in succession to Mr Martin Shearman CVO.

Ms Anne Sherriff has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium in succession to Mr Martin Shearman CVO who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Ms Sherriff will take up her appointment during September 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Anne Martha Sherriff

Dates	Role
2023 to 2024	Full Time Language Training
2023	Paris, Interim Deputy Trade Commissioner Europe and Country Director France
2017 to 2022	FCDO, Deputy Director, Europe Directorate
2014 to 2017	FCO, Deputy Director, Human Resources Directorate
2011 to 2014	FCO, Programme Manager, Human Resources Directorate
2009 to 2011	FCO, Head, Business Engagement Group
2007 to 2009	FCO, Head of Communications, Information and Technology Directorate
2004 to 2007	Dublin, Head, EU/Global Issues Section
2000 to 2004	FCO, Europe Directorate
1995 to 2000	Department of Trade and Industry, Fast Stream Graduate Programme

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

Enhanced Interactive dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Sudan. Read by Minister for Africa and Development, Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP.

Mr President,

Nearly a year ago, the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces plunged Sudan into a bloody conflict.

The human cost has been unbearable.

An estimated 12,000 people dead … thousands injured … almost 18 million facing acute hunger.

The warring parties are fighting in heavily populated areas, committing appalling acts of sexual violence, and recruiting mere children as soldiers.

To the Sudanese people bearing the brunt of these appalling human rights violations:  the UK stands with you.

Those responsible must be held to account.

This is why Britain helped establish the mandate for the High Commissioner and his Expert, as well as the new Fact-Finding Mission.

The African Union, United Nations and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have made valiant, and commendable, efforts to mediate.

The warring generals must demonstrate the political will to stop the fighting – now – and make space for democratic, civilian-led transitional government in Sudan. One with full respect for human rights.

Mr Nouicer, High Commissioner, let me end by asking: With the first anniversary of this conflict approaching, what opportunities are there for the UN to exert pressure on the warring parties to commit to a sustainable peace process?

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

Joint Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on South Sudan, as delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Thank you, Mr. President,

This statement is on behalf of the Item 2 Core Group for South Sudan –Albania, Norway, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

We thank the Commissioners for their important report and their presentation today. We also thank the Government of South Sudan for its continued co-operation with the Commission, and for the Minister of Justice’s contribution to this dialogue.

Mr. President,

Reporting from the Commission, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and others show ongoing human rights violations and abuses being committed in South Sudan with impunity, as well as a deteriorating climate for civic and political space.  We share these grave concerns, and are also deeply worried by the lack of progress in implementing the Revitalized Agreement more broadly.

As friends of the people of South Sudan, we stand ready to play our part in supporting South Sudan’s path to peace, reconciliation, accountability, and full respect for human rights. The Commission plays a vital role in this regard, and our Core Group believes firmly that its mandate must therefore be extended in full in this Session, to ensure continued and robust human rights scrutiny by this Council, We will continue to engage with South Sudan in the hope that this extension can be agreed by consensus.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on South Sudan, delivered at the UN Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President,

Let me start by thanking the Commissioners for their report, and their vital work which makes such an important contribution towards peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.  We also welcome the presence of the other speakers on this panel, including the Honourable Justice Minister of South Sudan.

Mr President we regret that the situation in South Sudan remains grave, according to a wide range of UN and other reporting. Civic space and media freedom remains severely restricted. Civil society actors face reprisals for exercising their right to the freedom of expression and sub-national conflict continues to provoke appalling acts of conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK is clear that the Revitalized Agreement must be honoured and fully implemented, including by establishing the Chapter Five transitional justice mechanisms intended to ensure accountability for violations and abuses. We regret that these institutions have still not been established and the Revitalized Agreement remains severely off track, including the recent failure to renew the Joint Action Plan for Armed Forces on Conflict Related Sexual Violence.

We therefore believe that there must be continued, robust scrutiny of South Sudan’s human rights situation by the Commission, and we call on the government to deliver on its commitment to ensure democratic elections, accountability and full respect for human rights in South Sudan.

Commissioners, Mr Volkmann,

What more in your assessment can the international community do to protect the role of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society in the run up to the 2024 elections?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 March 2024.

Interactive Dialogue: High Commissioner’s Update on Myanmar. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

High Commissioner, we share your deep concern about rising atrocity risks across Myanmar.

Military airstrikes and the shelling of civilian targets continues to demonstrate a shocking disregard for innocent lives.

The systemic discrimination of the Rohingya continues. The Rohingya are denied citizenship, they are denied freedom of movement and access to services, leaving them vulnerable to human trafficking.

This suffering has been compounded by further restrictions on humanitarian access and the escalation of the conflict in Rakhine state.

The UK is grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for its continued hosting of nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees, and we remain committed to supporting those Rohingya until conditions are suitable for their return. Since 2017, we have provided over £370 million to Bangladesh and over £30 million for the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Myanmar.

Any returns of the Rohingya to Myanmar must be voluntary, safe, and dignified.

Accountability is paramount. In November, the UK with partners filed a joint declaration of intervention at the International Court of Justice, in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar. The UK also continues to support the collection of evidence, including by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM).

High Commissioner,

What more can the Council do to respond to the risk of further atrocities?