Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2023.

A joint statement with France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2023.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

During the 52nd UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UK co-sponsored a Joint Statement relating to human rights in Nicaragua. This was delivered 3 March 2023.

Mr. President,

On behalf of 53 countries, Canada thanks the High Commissioner for his update, which sheds light on concerning developments in Nicaragua and evidences the importance of renewing the OHCHR’s monitoring mandate.

Whilst we welcome the recent release of 222 political prisoners, and thank the facilitating States, we condemn the Government of Nicaragua’s decision to strip these individuals and 94 other Nicaraguans of their citizenship and political rights. Nationality is a right, which cannot be revoked without due process.

We are troubled by the testimonies of mistreatment of released political prisoners. We urge the authorities to cease arbitrary detention and release all remaining political prisoners, including leaders of the Catholic Church.

We are further alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants in Nicaragua, who face increasing repression, persecution and discrimination.

We reiterate our concern over Nicaragua’s refusal to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms. We call on the authorities to grant them access in order to address and investigate allegations of human rights violations and torture, and to renew cooperation with the OHCHR.

The trend to bar and expel foreign representatives from the country only isolates Nicaragua. We call on Nicaragua to open a dialogue in good faith with the international community.

Mr. High Commissioner, what more can this Council do to bring accountability for egregious human rights violations in Nicaragua?

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 3 March 2023.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) today confirmed it will support proposals to expand Automatic Enrolment, enabling millions of people to save more and to start saving earlier.

Jonathan Gullis MP’s Private Members Bill, backed today by the government, grants two extensions to Automatic Enrolment – abolishing the Lower Earnings Limit for contributions and reducing the age for being automatically enrolled to 18 years old.

Minister for Pensions, Laura Trott, said:

We know that these widely supported measures will make a meaningful difference to people’s pension saving over the years ahead.

Doing this will see the government deliver on our commitment to help grow the economy and support the hard-working people of this country, particularly groups such as women, young people and lower earners who have historically found it harder to save for retirement.

Jonathan Gullis MP, said:

Auto-enrolment of pensions will benefit scores of young people in all four corners of the country, which is why I am delighted that Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is supportive of the bill.

With all the evidence of the huge positive impact it can have, it is a no-brainer that we now need to extend auto-enrolment to those aged 18 and above. I am confident this Bill will make a huge difference to people from Kidsgrove to Consett.

Lowering the age at which eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers from 22 to 18 will make saving the norm for young adults and enable them to begin to save from the start of their working lives.

In addition, the bill provides for the removal of the Lower Earnings Limit, supporting those with low earnings and multiple jobs by ensuring they are saving from the first pound earned.

Following the success of the Automatic Enrolment, the government intends to continue its work with thousands of employers and pension providers to further boost the amount of people in a workplace pension and the amount they save for retirement.

It will also continue its work on empowering savers to know their pension options by introducing revolutionary products such as Pensions Dashboards and Mid-life MOTs, providing accessibility and innovation in how people save for their retirement.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

The UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, delivered this statement on Sudan at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President, and welcome to the Minister of Justice of Sudan

The UK continues to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people and their demands for democracy, freedom and justice. We therefore welcome the signing of the political framework agreement in December by different Sudanese parties – an important step for Sudan’s transition to civilian-led government.

Let me congratulate Mr Nouicer on his appointment as the High Commissioner’s new Designated Expert, and thank him and the High Commissioner for their early visits to Sudan. We appreciate the continued cooperation of the Sudanese authorities with his mandate.

While these developments are encouraging, there is still much to be done in addressing the overall human rights situation. The death of a protestor from live ammunition on 28 February was unacceptable and deeply concerning. We continue to urge security and military forces to fulfil their obligation to protect civilians and respect their right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, without fear of violence or arbitrary detention. And to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held to account.

High Commissioner,

What opportunities do you and Mr Nouicer see for encouraging constructive participation in the dialogues launched to address issues central to the framework agreement?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

Mrs Harriet King has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of The Gambia in succession to Mr David Belgrove OBE. Mrs King will take up her appointment during September 2023.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Harriet Catherine King

Married to: William King

Children: Two

Date	Role
2022 to present	FCDO, Head of Strategic Engagement, Strategy Directorate
2018 to 2022	Rabat, Head, Political Internal and Programmes
2014 to 2018	Dakar, Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul
2013 to 2014	FCO, Sahel Task Force
2011 to 2012	FCO, Desk Officer for Egypt, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
2006 to 2010	FCO, Head of Crisis Operations and other operational and policy roles, Crisis Management Department
2005 to 2006	FCO, Assistant Board Secretary, Strategy Group
2004 to 2005	FCO, Desk Officer, Strategy Group
2002 to 2004	FCO, Visits Officer, Conference and Visits Group

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

During the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Rita French, the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, delivered a statement on the situation in Nicaragua.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

Mr Nic Bowler has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic in succession to Mr Charles Garrett OBE. Mr Bowler will take up his appointment during June 2023.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Nicholas Bowler

Married to: Leanne Bowler

Children: Two

Dates	Role
2020 to present	Kyiv, Head of UK Programmes in Ukraine
2017 to 2020	Occupied Palestinian Territories, Team Leader, Governance and Security
2015 to 2017	Department for International Development, Deputy and Acting Development Director, Kyrgyzstan
2014 to 2015	Kabul, Governance Adviser
2013 to 2014	Coffey International, Evaluation Manager
2008 to 2013	Coffey International and Palladium, Programme Manager and Governance Expert

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, visited Iraq, including the Kurdistan region, from 28 February to 2 March 2023.

Following his visit to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, Lord Tariq Ahmad, welcomed the UK and Iraq’s commitment to working together on shared challenges such as climate change, security, human rights and freedom of religion and belief.

During his visit he met President Mr Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al Sudani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.

In Erbil, he met KRI President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, as well as Minister of Interior, Mr Rebar Ahmed; Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Qubad Talabani and KDP President, Mr Masoud Barzani.

Discussions focused on shared challenges such as climate change, security, and human rights; deepening our historic relationship on trade and education; supporting priority areas of economic and digital reform in Iraq; and working together on regional and international issues of common interest, including the global implications of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The shared collective commitment to freedom of religion or belief was central to Lord Ahmad’s trip. He visited some of Iraq’s most significant religious sites and met with a wide range of representatives of Iraq’s religious and faith communities, including Ayatollah Hussein Al-Sadr, in Baghdad and representatives of the Yazidi community at the Lalish Temple.

He also bestowed an MBE on the Reverend Cannon Faez Jerjes of St George’s Anglican Church. Lord Ahmed’s discussions focussed on Iraq’s rich religious and ethnic diversity and the importance of interfaith dialogue in Iraq.

In meetings with senior politicians, civil society and religious leaders Lord Ahmad discussed the human rights situation in Iraq, especially issues facing survivors of Da’esh atrocities. Lord Ahmad welcomed the passing of the Yazidi survivors’ law in 2021 and reiterated the UK’s continued commitment to help the Iraqi government fully implement the law.

During his visit to Duhok, he also discussed the situation for Internally Displaced Persons and the importance of supporting their return and safe integration back into Iraqi society.

During his visit to Erbil, Lord Ahmad met with the President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Foreign Minister and Minister of Interior as well as the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. He visited the Department of Information Technology, where he learned about the support the UK is providing to help the Kurdistan Region of Iraq deliver digital reform.

Speaking at the end of his visit, Lord Ahmad said:

I am delighted to have returned to Iraq and the Kurdistan region to see how the relationship between our 2 countries is continuing to flourish. I am especially pleased that we are working together to address shared challenges such as climate change, human rights and security.

I was honoured to visit some of Iraq’s impressive and important religious sites and to meet religious leaders. This underlined the richness of Iraq’s religious and ethnic diversity, the need to protect freedom of religion or belief and the importance of interfaith dialogue.

I was glad to see that progress has been made with the passage of the Yazidi Survivors Law, but from my conversations with survivors it was clear they need continued support and full access to justice. The UK is committed to helping Iraq fully implement the Yazidi Survivors Law.

I was impressed with what I saw at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s state of the art Department of Information Technology I’m delighted the UK is able to support ambitious reform programmes in Iraq and the Kurdistan region. Meeting with business leaders and inspiring young professionals underlined that developing new economic expertise and encouraging bilateral investment and trade is of vital importance.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 March 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush expresses concern regarding disruptions to the Lachin Corridor and takes note of the judgement by the International Court of Justice.

Thank you Chair.

The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the continued disruption to the Lachin Corridor, particularly the flow of goods and people.

This issue remains near the top of the international agenda. We have discussed the disruption here in Vienna, multiple times, and at the United Nations Security Council. That this has now been taken to the International Court of Justice, and judgment passed, reinforces the need for urgent action to be taken. The current disruption to the Lachin Corridor is detrimental to efforts to secure peace and stability.

The UK Government has taken note of all the judgements by the Court, and urges immediate action be taken to restore the flow of goods and people into Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties must engage in substantive negotiations, without preconditions, to secure a sustainable and peaceful settlement to the conflict and to resolve all outstanding tensions.