Tag: Foreign Office

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

General Comment on Violence against Women and Girls, as delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

Let me begin by thanking the main sponsor for their steadfast efforts in presenting this strong and balanced text. We believe that Canada accommodated the key concerns from a broad range of delegations in striving to achieve consensus on a matter which, we hope, should be of the utmost importance to every delegation sitting in this room.

This draft text seeks to highlight that women and girls in criminal justice detention are disproportionately subjected to practices such as forced or coerced sterilization, forced pregnancy, and forced abortion. Forced practices are frequently based on abuse of power and the disregard for their human rights. In this context, we believe that sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes and services provide a vital access point to survivors of GBV particularly for women and girls in criminal justice detention.

Similarly, Comprehensive Sexuality Education is especially important for women and girls who often face high rates of violence and abuse, as it informs and empowers them to prevent, identify and report acts of GBV. We deeply regret attempts to dilute references to age-appropriate, evidence-based and comprehensive CSE which also teaches youth about their human rights, gender equality but vitally, about respect for others, consent and health relationships. If we are to collectively prevent and end all forms of gender-based violence, we must ensure access to information and education for all.

Mr President,

It remains truly harrowing that 1 in 3 women are subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Given this stark reality, we strongly support the mandate of a Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls in the UN system. We will also not stand for any efforts seeking to undermine international consensus that aims to protect so many women and girls around the world. We will join consensus on this resolution and we hope our fellow Council Members join us.

Thank you.

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

Explanation of vote by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Haiti.

The UK is pleased to have voted in favour of this resolution, which extends and strengthens the mandate for the UN’s vital work in Haiti.

It is particularly welcome that this resolution paves the way for the Council to respond to Haiti’s request for security support in the context of the steeply deteriorating security, humanitarian, political and economic situation.

Only last week this Council heard powerful accounts from civil society and the region on the appalling human rights abuses being committed by gangs in Haiti.

Conflict-related sexual violence in particular has spiralled in recent months. And the ability of people to live their lives normally, to move freely, to go to school, or to hospitals, has been tragically disrupted.

So we welcome this resolution and look forward to considering in due course the options presented by the Secretary-General.

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

Deputy Ambassador Brown urges Uzbekistan to implement the recommendations made by ODIHR observation missions.

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

26 members of the Media Freedom Coalition have issued a joint statement following the attack on journalist Elena Milashina and Alexander Nemov.

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

Members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI), issued a joint statement on the situation in Sudan.

This is a joint statement by members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI). The following Alliance members support this statement: Australia, Colombia, France, Kosovo, Liberia, Luxembourg, Republic of Korea, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Nadia Murad, Dr Mukwege, Mukwege Foundation and Global Survivors Fund. Lord Ahmad announced the statement at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on 14 July.

As members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, we are deeply concerned by the increasing reports of sexual violence, including rape, in the context of the conflict that erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023.

All too often, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by conflict. Together, we urge all parties to the conflict to end the violence, including sexual violence.

The provision of prompt and quality services for survivors of sexual violence must be prioritised. We stress the urgency for parties to the conflict to ensure unimpeded, safe humanitarian access to all in need. This requires enabling the free movement of humanitarian workers and humanitarian supplies that will cater for people’s basic needs, including the provision of medical assistance and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual violence.

Sexual violence must stop and survivors must be supported. As members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, we will continue working to end conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan and across the globe.

The Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

As an Alliance, we raise our voice, shining a light on appalling reports of sexual violence in Sudan and calling for an end to violence, support to survivors and safe humanitarian access.

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

Lord Jack McConnell reaffirmed the UK’s strong commitment to bringing international expertise on devolution & democratic governance to support the BARMM peace process.

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the Sudan International Criminal Court investigation.

I thank Prosecutor Karim Khan for his 37th report on the Situation in Darfur and his briefing today, and I welcome the ICC’s unwavering commitment to help deliver justice for the people of Darfur. I also recognise the participation of the Representative of Sudan at this meeting.

The UK welcomes the progress made in the trial of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman. This case is testament to the victims’ courage and patience to tell their stories after two decades.  We urge all parties to help maintain the trial’s momentum.

We regret, however, that from the October 2021 military coup until the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, there was an almost complete failure by the Sudanese authorities to cooperate with the ICC.

Furthermore, we share the Prosecutor’s concern over the impact of the current conflict on the ongoing investigations, including the apparent release from custody of ICC suspects.

We are also deeply troubled by today’s reports of continued violence and mass graves outside the capital of West Darfur.

The UK shares the Prosecutor’s assessment that the current conflict stems in part from the failure to ensure justice and accountability on the part of those who hold power in Sudan. Their disregard for international obligations and for meaningful justice for past crimes has helped sow the seeds for this latest cycle of violence and suffering.

All sides are responsible for the crimes they commit, and we remind the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces that the ICC’s mandate in Darfur is ongoing.

We welcome the Prosecutor’s decision to commence investigations into offences committed in the current conflict – including in particular ethnically-targeted killings and sexual violence.

In closing, the UK would like to reiterate our support to the Court to deliver justice for the people of Darfur.  At the same time, we underline this Council’s call for an immediate end to the current hostilities.

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

Deputy Ambassador Brown remembers the victims of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting that we must learn the lessons of history.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

On 11 July we paused to remember the victims of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to honour the survivors.

Mr Chair, 28 years ago in Srebrenica, genocide took place in Europe for the first time since 1945. The genocide claimed the lives of over 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys, and led to the displacement of over 20,000 women and children who were forcibly expelled from their homes. We honour the memory of those killed, and pay tribute to the extraordinary courage and resilience shown by their families and by survivors. We stand with the families in their ongoing fight for justice.

The UK is committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to build a secure, stable, inclusive society, and heal the fractures caused by conflict. It is regrettable that we continue to see divisive and dangerous nationalist rhetoric, threats of secession, and open challenges to the constitutional order established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. The UK is committed to a single, sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will continue to take action in support of that. We also continue to urge political leaders to condemn any glorification of the perpetrators of war crimes, and to take action against genocide denial.

Mr Chair, as was the case in 2022, we remember Srebrenica this year in the shadow of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We must learn the lessons of history. Terrible events such as the genocide at Srebrenica show the consequences of inaction. We owe it to the victims to create societies that are stable, inclusive and cohesive, and to fight against prejudice, hatred, fear and division wherever we find it. The greatest tribute we can give to those who lost their lives is to do everything we can to prevent such a horrific crime from ever being repeated.

As our Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans, James Heappey, said during the UK National Srebrenica Memorial Day Ceremony earlier this month, we will never forget Srebrenica. We can demonstrate that best by doing everything in our power to ensure that the senseless violence of 28 years ago is truly a thing of the past.

Thank you, Mr Chair.