Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on UNITAD.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

Members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse gave a statement on women’s and girls’ rights to participate in public life.

Today, on International Day of Democracy 2023, the undersigned country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse call attention to the pressing need to protect and promote women’s and girls’ right to participate in public life.

This is a pivotal year for the status of democracy globally with more than 100 countries scheduled to hold elections in the coming year. The active participation of all people, including women and girls in all their diversity, is essential for healthy and prosperous democracies. Yet women and girls engaged in public life are increasingly targeted by online threats and attacks, with insufficient avenues for response and redress. A global study* found that the majority of women parliamentarians surveyed had experienced psychological violence, primarily through social media, including threats of death, sexual violence, beatings or abductions. Some women face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on the basis of age, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Online threats to women and girls in public life have proliferated with the increased adoption of digital technologies and are likely to continue to grow with new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, which has led to the rise of malicious deepfakes, non-consensual pornography, reinforced stereotyping and bias, and other harms. Multiple forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence have been shown to prompt women’s self-censorship and disengagement from the public sphere and can occur alongside offline intimidation and violence.

This undermines women’s ability to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. Orchestrated, digital attacks deliberately use misogyny and disinformation to discredit, intimidate and silence women politicians, journalists, and activists. In addition to harming individual targets, these attacks are an affront to democracies globally. They should therefore be prioritised as an urgent concern given the serious threat they pose to inclusive, open societies. All people – including women and girls in all their diversity – should be able to speak out and actively participate in the public sphere without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence. We must prevent and address technology-facilitated gender-based violence to safeguard the very well-being of our democracies and economies.

We call upon states to join us in recognising the threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence to democracies globally. We urge states and technology companies to take appropriate action to prevent and respond to this threat, support a Safety by Design approach to the development and deployment of platforms and technologies and defend women’s right to participate in public life freely, safely and without fear.

Co-signatories and sponsoring country members of the Global Partnership:

Australia: Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland; Chile; Denmark: Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen; Iceland: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir; New Zealand: Minister for Women, Hon Jan Tinetti; Republic of Korea: Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oh Youngju; Sweden: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström; United Kingdom: Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon; United States of America.

*Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (2016). Sexism, harassment and violence against women parliamentarians. Geneva. Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: Preliminary Landscape Analysis (publishing.service.gov.uk) (PDF, 2.44MB) p.32

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

The Foreign Secretary has commended the bravery of Iranian women a year on from Mahsa Amini’s death and announced coordinated sanctions on the regime.

• Bravery of Iranian women commended by UK Foreign Secretary on anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death as he underlines the UK’s commitment to standing with the Iranian people as they call for fundamental rights.
• UK, US, Canada andAustralia  announce coordinated sanctions on Iranian officials to mark anniversary.
• UK sanctions focus on senior decision makers responsible for enforcing Iran’s mandatory hijab law, including the Minister for Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Mayor of Tehran and the Iranian Police spokesperson.

The Foreign Secretary has commended the bravery of the Iranian people a year on from the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Morality Police.

Marking the anniversary tomorrow, the UK, US, Canada and Australia have imposed coordinated sanctions on Iranian officials and entities.

The UK’s sanctions focus on senior Iranian decision makers responsible for drafting and implementing Iran’s mandatory hijab legislation.

Iran’s existing legislation prohibits women and girls from choosing what they wear, with punishments for refusing to wear a hijab including time in prison and severe fines.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

A year on from Mahsa Amini’s tragic death at the hands of Iran’s Morality Police, I commend the bravery of Iranian women as they continue to fight for fundamental freedoms.

Today’s sanctions on those responsible for Iran’s oppressive laws send a clear message that the UK and our partners will continue to stand with Iranian women and call out the repression it is inflicting on its own people.

Today’s sanctions include:

• Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
• Mohammad Hashemi – Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
• Alireza Zakani – Mayor of Tehran.
• Saeed Montazer Al-Mahdi – Iranian Police Spokesman.

The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance is responsible for ensuring adherence to government dress codes within Iranian society. As examples, Esmaili declared that actresses who remove the hijab in public or social media can no longer continue their careers in acting, and that action would be taken against businesses whose female employees failed to adhere to mandatory hijab requirements.

The Police Spokesperson Al-Mahdi threatened that the regime will ‘deal firmly’ with those women who removed their hijab, including for example by impounding the cars of women caught driving without hijab.

The Morality Police’s activities reduced following the outbreak of protests after Mahsa Amini’s death and a raft of international sanctions, including by the UK, but earlier this year its forces have reappeared as part of a renewed crackdown on women in Iran. This has included specific punishments against women for failing to wear the hijab, including being prevented from using the Tehran Metro, and female actors banned from working by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

The UK has imposed sanctions on more than 350 Iranian officials and entities, including the Prosecutor General and the IRGC in its entirety, and announced its intention to create a new sanctions regime earlier this year to target decision makers in Iran for hostile activities in the UK and around the world. The UK has previously sanctioned the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, responsible for women’s dress codes in Iran.

Since Mahsa Amini’s death, the Iranian regime has been increasingly isolated by the international community, and faced growing sanctions’ pressure in response to serious human rights violations against its own people, and supply of UAV related technology to Russia for use in Ukraine. In December 2022, Iran was removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

The UK, France and Germany (E3) announce they will transfer UN sanctions on Iran into domestic regimes and maintain EU/UK sanctions beyond October deadline.

• UK, France and Germany (E3) to transfer UN sanctions on Iran into domestic regimes and maintain existing EU/UK sanctions beyond October deadline included in nuclear deal.
• E3 taking ‘legitimate and proportionate’ action in response to Iranian regime breaching commitments under the nuclear deal and advancing its nuclear programme beyond all credible civilian justification.
• UK and partners remain committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The UK has today committed to bringing UN sanctions on Iran due to lift in October into UK law.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a range of UN, EU and UK sanctions were due to be lifted on October 18th. These include sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Iran’s missile, nuclear, and other weapons programs.

In response to continued Iranian non-compliance with their JCPoA commitments and ongoing nuclear escalation, the E3 have confirmed today that the UN sanctions will be transferred into domestic sanctions regimes and the EU and UK sanctions will be maintained.

FCDO spokesperson said:

Iran continues to breach its commitments under the JCPoA and advance its nuclear programme beyond all credible civilian justification.

Alongside our French and German partners, we have taken a legitimate and proportionate step in response to Iran’s actions.

The UK and our partners remain committed to a diplomatic solution but Iran must now take clear steps towards de-escalation. We are committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Today’s actions do not violate the JCPoA and are fully consistent with the procedures defined within it. Iran has consistently breached its obligations under the JCPoA. The regime’s enriched uranium stockpiles are more than 18 times the JCPoA limit and it has built and deployed thousands of advanced centrifuges.

In March last year and again in August, the UK and our partners offered Iran viable deals that would have defused the nuclear issue. On both occasions Iran declined.

The UK and our partners remain committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including through the snapback process if necessary.

Further information

• The E3 triggered the JCPoA’s Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) in January 2020 in response to Iranian non-compliance to try to find a solution. The DRM process is supposed to allow 30 days to resolve outstanding issues; it has been over three and a half years and Iran remains out of compliance.
• According to Paragraph 36 of the JCPoA, these unresolved issues are grounds to cease performing part of our commitments.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement ahead of JCPoA Transition Day on 18 October 2023.

A spokesperson for the E3 said:

In direct response to Iran’s consistent and severe non-compliance with its JCPoA commitments since 2019, the governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom intend to maintain nuclear proliferation-related measures on Iran, as well as arms and missile embargoes, after JCPoA Transition Day on 18 October 2023. We have jointly notified the JCPoA Coordinator in that regard.

This decision is fully compliant with the JCPoA. It follows our attempts to resolve Iran’s non-compliance through the JCPoA’s Dispute Resolution Mechanism which we triggered in January 2020. Iran has refused opportunities to return to the JCPoA twice and has continued to expand its programme beyond JCPoA limitations and without any credible civilian justification. Its enriched uranium stockpile stands at more than 18 times the amount permitted under the JCPoA.

Our commitment to finding a diplomatic solution remains. This decision does not amount to imposing additional sanctions nor to triggering the snapback mechanism. We stand ready to reverse our decision, should Iran fully implement its JCPoA commitments.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council meeting on advancing public-private partnerships.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

Following North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 13 September 2023, an FCDO spokesperson made the following statement.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 13 September are yet another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).

Illegal ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK will continue to call out violations of UNSCRs. We strongly urge North Korea to return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.

The launches come alongside reports that DPRK and Russia are negotiating a possible arms deal.

We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments Pyongyang has made not to sell arms to Russia. We also call on Russia to uphold UN Security Council resolutions.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

63 Countries sign a joint statement expressing concern at Iran’s lack of cooperation on NPT Safeguards Agreement.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2023.

Germany, France, the US and the UK (the Quad) gave a joint statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on 13 September.

Chair,

France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States thank DirectorGeneral Grossi for his report on the implementation of safeguards in Iran contained in GOV/2023/43.

We welcome the statement made by Denmark on behalf of a group of 63 States, to which I will add separate remarks on behalf of our four countries. We fully support and commend the DG and the Secretariat for their professional, independent and impartial verification of Iran’s safeguards obligations. We commend their repeated efforts to engage Iran to clarify information concerning the correctness and completeness of its declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. The IAEA should continue to evaluate all safeguards-relevant information available, in line with its mandate and standard practice.

Chair,

It has been more than four years since the IAEA raised questions regarding possible undeclared nuclear material at a number of undeclared locations in Iran. The Board has adopted three resolutions in reaction to Iran’s persistent lack of substantive cooperation, most recently in November 2022, when the Board decided that it is “essential and urgent”, that Iran act to fulfil its legal obligations and clarify all outstanding safeguards issues without delay.

On March 4 2023, Iran made commitments to the Agency regarding the outstanding safeguards issues and Agency verification and monitoring activities. We recall that this Joint Statement was agreed in the context of Iran’s continued escalation of its nuclear program, as demonstrated by the detection of uranium enriched at 83.7%. This constituted an extremely grave development, and further strengthened the view that there is no credible civilian justification for Iran’s nuclear programme.

As the DG has reported in the clearest terms, there has been no progress whatsoever both on outstanding safeguards issues and on verification and monitoring activities since the last Board. Instead, Iran persists in its deliberate refusal to engage earnestly with the Agency.

Chair,

On outstanding safeguards issues, we note that Iran has still not addressed the presence of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin found by the Agency in Turquzabad and Varamin. As clearly requested by the Agency, Iran needs to provide, without further delay, technically credible information on the current location(s) of nuclear material and contaminated equipment in relation to Turquzabad and Varamin.

We note that the Agency’s assessment of the activities undertaken in Marivan remains as set out previously: that Iran conducted explosive experiments in preparation for the use of neutron detectors at this site. This is a stark reminder of why we need to continue to demand full transparency from Iran on all outstanding safeguards issues.

Unless and until Iran provides technically credible explanations in response to the Agency’s outstanding questions, as reiterated in the November 2022 Resolution, the Agency will not be able to confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran’s declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement or provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Such assurances are critical for the international community and the international non-proliferation regime.

In addition, we note that the Agency still awaits resolution of the discrepancy, detected more than a year ago, between the amount of natural uranium from Jaber Ibn Hayan Laboratory declared by Iran and the amount verified by the Agency. The Agency considers Iran’s accountancy “not to be based on scientific grounds, and therefore, not acceptable”. We call upon Iran to engage the Agency to explain the shortfall of nuclear material and demonstrate ‘valid and technically sound measurement results’. It is worth recalling that this material is related to a previous safeguards site of concern – LavisanShian.

Finally, we once again recall that implementation of modified Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangements General Part to Iran’s Safeguards Agreement is a legal obligation for Iran which cannot be modified or stopped unilaterally. Iran has announced the locations of new nuclear facilities and the Agency has asked Iran to provide required preliminary design information. Iran must respond to these requests imminently. Iran is the only state with significant nuclear activities implementing a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement but not modified Code 3.1.

Chair,

We note with regret that there has been no progress in implementing the 4th March Joint Statement, despite the Agency’s request to install additional cameras and for access to data on cameras previously installed. We urge Iran to allow the Agency to install all cameras it deems necessary, provide the Agency with access to all existing recorded data, and agree specific arrangements to fill the gaps in the Agency’s knowledge for the periods during which recorded data does not exist.

Furthermore, we note the de-designation of experienced Agency inspectors and denial of visas for Agency officials dealing with Iran during this period – which runs counter to the co-operative relationship that should prevail between Iran and the Agency. These actions undermine the Agency’s ability to carry out its safeguards mandate. We urge Iran to fully facilitate the implementation of the Agency’s safeguards verification activities. The Board will monitor this closely. Furthermore, the recent attempts at intimidation by Iran, aimed at discouraging Board members from raising their concerns at Board meetings are unacceptable. It is the legitimate right of Board members to participate in the debate on all agenda items as they see fit as set out by the Board of Governors’ Rules of procedure.

Chair,

Iran cannot continue to fail to meet its legal safeguards obligations. We urge Iran to act without delay to clarify and resolve all outstanding issues. The Director General has made clear asks in his report and requested engagement from Iran. The November 2022 Resolution makes clear the Board’s requirements of Iran. Iran must urgently deliver both sets of requirements.

If Iran fails to implement the essential and urgent actions contained in the November 2022 Resolution and the 4th March Joint Statement in full, the Board will have to be prepared to take further action in support of the Secretariat to hold Iran accountable in the future, including the possibility of a resolution.

We reiterate that, should Iran clarify all outstanding issues and enable the IAEA Director General to confirm that these issues have been duly addressed, we will not deem further reports on developments necessary. We would like to thank the IAEA for their impartial and professional work on this issue. We encourage the Director General to continue reporting to the Board of Governors and welcome making the report contained in GOV/2023/43 public, in line with long-standing practice.

Thank you, Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 September 2023.

The UK has announced a new package of support for Libya following the devastating floods.

• UK announces an initial package worth up to £1 million which will provide life-saving assistance to those in need
• the UK is a leading donor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, which has allocated $10 million to the flood response
• Minister for the Middle East and North Africa reiterated UK’s commitment to Libya in a call with the Head of Libya’s Presidential Council

The UK has stepped up its response to the devastating floods in Libya.

The Foreign Secretary has announced an initial package worth up to £1 million to provide life-saving assistance to meet the immediate needs of those most affected by the floods.

The UK is working with trusted partners on the ground to identify the most urgent basic needs, including on shelter, healthcare and sanitation and stands ready to provide further support.

In addition, the UN has announced $10 million in response to the flooding from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to which the UK is one of the largest donors. The UK has committed £52 million towards the UNCERF’s vital work in 2023.

The Minister for Middle East and North Africa, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, also spoke with the Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Dr Mohamed Menfi, today (Wednesday) to convey his condolences and the UK’s commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK is committed to supporting Libya following these devastating floods.

The funding announced today will provide life-saving assistance to those most affected by the floods, including women and children and those who have been displaced from their homes.

We will continue to coordinate closely with the UN and the Libyan authorities on what further support may be required.

Further information

• CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the United Nations General Assembly to enable timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters, armed conflict and complex emergencies through rapid, effective and efficient channelling of resources to humanitarian agencies
• the UK is a proud supporter of CERF. In 2022, the UK was one of the largest donors to the fund, contributing £52 million, 10% of overall funding for the year. The UK has committed £52 million again in 2023, and remains a strong advocate of CERF’s lifesaving operations
• overall, the UK is the largest contributor to the CERF since its inception, having provided a total of $1.7 billion of core funding between 2006 to 2021