Tag: Foreign Office

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the situation of Ukrainian mayors [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the situation of Ukrainian mayors [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 March 2023.

    Joint statement on Item 8: the situation of Ukrainian mayors. Delivered by UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, at Human Rights Council.

    I deliver this statement on behalf of a group of countries. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes the international community’s dismay at the use of summary and arbitrary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture.

    Reports of Ukrainian civilians being detained arbitrarily by Russia’s forces are shocking, and numerous. According to these reports, civilians often face inhuman or degrading treatment, torture and inadequate conditions.

    Russia has systematically gone after prominent members of local communities in every Ukrainian territory it has attempted to illegally annex. This is part of Russia’s strategy to suppress dissent and to assert its control by menacing the local population. Those taken include journalists, activists, religious officials and local leaders.

    Today we want to focus on the mayors of towns and cities Russia has attempted to illegally annex. At least 30 mayors have been detained since the start of the invasion on the 24 February 2022. At least six remain in Russia’s custody.

    Ihor Kolykhaiev, Mayor of Kherson was taken by Russia’s forces in June 2022. Since then, his family has relied on testimony from other detainees, upon their release, to hear news of his condition.

    He is not alone. A similar fate befell mayors Oleksandr Babych, Yevhenii Matvieiev, Volodymyr Karaberov, Serhii Khilchenko, all reportedly taken into Russia’s custody and detained between March and June 2022. Russia has still not confirmed their whereabouts, and their families have received no information on their wellbeing. The family of Volodymyr Mykolayenko, taken in April 2022, know that he is being held in Russia, but have not been told why, or where.

    The international community will not ignore violations of international law, including arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances. Russia must confirm who it is holding, where, and why. It must cease committing enforced disappearances and release all who have been detained in contravention of international law. And it must respect all of its commitments under the VDPA [The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action].

    Statement delivered by Ambassador Manley on behalf of 40 countries:

    UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, New Zealand, Australia, North Macedonia, Georgia, Albania. Canada, USA, Iceland, Ukraine, Japan and Moldova.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The wide-ranging security impacts of challenges in cyberspace – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The wide-ranging security impacts of challenges in cyberspace – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 March 2023.

    Emma Logan (UK Delegation) condemns Russia’s sustained pattern of malicious cyber behaviour against the UK and our partners.

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have heard today, threats in cyberspace are evolving and can take many forms.

    We continue to see a sustained pattern of malicious cyber behaviour by the Russian state, and by cyber criminals allowed to operate from Russian territory with impunity, against the UK and our friends and partners.

    Threat to Ukraine

    This pattern of malicious cyber behaviour includes a long-running campaign of hostile and destabilising activity against Ukraine, the tempo of which increased significantly in the run up to and immediately following Russia’s illegal invasion on 24 February 2022.

    Together with partners, we have exposed multiple instances of malicious cyber activity by Russia, including the deployment of malware against the Ukrainian banking sector on 15 and 16 February 2022, and an attack on a communications company on the 24 February that caused outages for several thousand Ukrainian customers, with tens of thousands of terminals damaged, rendered inoperable and irreparable.

    In addition to harming their intended targets, these incidents have had wider destabilising consequences – affecting ordinary people and businesses across the OSCE region. For example, the 24 February attack affected windfarms in one country and internet users across Europe.

    In addition, the Kremlin continues to use information operations to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty, create false pretexts and obscure the truth. It regularly uses propaganda and disinformation to sustain its support base, attack rivals, and erode international support for Ukraine. Georgia and Moldova are among the states suffering on the frontline from these underhand tactics.

    Threat to the UK

    Even before it launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine, we judged Russia posed a significant, enduring, and direct cyber threat to the UK.

    Our National Cyber Security Centre has confirmed that Russian cyber actors have conducted a malign programme of activity in recent years, including attempted interference against our media, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure.

    This threat has not changed significantly since the start of its invasion, but Russia’s risk appetite has grown significantly.

    UK response

    As was made clear by our recent Integrated Review Refresh, the UK is working with our partners to meet these challenges head on and to hold the perpetrators to account.

    Public attribution

    We have publicly attributed malicious cyber activity to Russia where we have had compelling evidence to do so and it was in our national interest. I have already given some examples, related to Ukraine, but there are others. For example, in April 2021 we attributed the SolarWinds compromise to Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, the SVR. This forms part of a pattern of behaviour ongoing since 2011, predominantly aimed at overseas governmental, diplomatic, think-tank, healthcare and energy targets for intelligence purposes.

    Sanctions

    We have also used our cyber sanctions regime to impose a direct cost on those responsible for malicious cyber activity. For example, together with partners we have imposed asset freezes and travel bans against members of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU’s, destructive cyber unit.

    Resilience

    As outlined in our National Cyber Strategy, the UK will continue to strengthen our cyber resilience.

    Support to partners

    And importantly, we also will continue to support our partners to build their own resilience.

    For example, we announced a £6.35 million package of cyber support to Ukraine last year, including the provision of daily cyber threat intelligence and technical assistance to the MFA to protect their websites from Distributed Denial of Service attacks.

    Lastly, on disinformation, we have established a new directorate in our Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to build our capability to assess and respond to the hostile manipulation of information. And we have committed to provide additional funding to the BBC World Service to counter disinformation.

    Mr. Chair, not only must Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine and end its brutal and illegal war, it must act as a responsible actor in cyberspace, and refrain from spreading dangerous disinformation. The UK will continue to do everything we can to protect ourselves and our partners from these threats and we would welcome further discussion on these topics in the OSCE Security Committee as the threats remain live.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Eight projects seek funding in the second phase of the Climate Finance Accelerator in Peru [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Eight projects seek funding in the second phase of the Climate Finance Accelerator in Peru [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    Eight innovative projects that contribute to climate change mitigation have been selected to participate in the second phase of the Climate Finance Accelerator.

    The program, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, will support the selected projects to strengthen their proposals and attract investment from Peruvian and international financiers.

    The projects in this second CFA cohort come from a variety of sectors including waste management, energy, sustainable agriculture, among others. For example, some of them aim to implement solar panel boats for river traffic in the Amazon, responsible waste management in the construction sector, regeneration of used clays, among others.

    A key barrier to climate action is the limited supply of projects capable of attracting the financing and investment needed to implement large-scale solutions. Projects will receive

    The technical assistance provided focuses on identifying their financial needs such as the combination of financing from public and private sources, structuring their bankable financial model and presentation materials.

    The advice also seeks to improve the business model in areas like gender inclusion and social equality. Once funded, the projects will benefit communities throughout Peru through pollution reduction, employment opportunities, energy access, water conservation, and support for gender equality and social inclusion efforts.

    UK Ambassador to Peru, Gavin Cook, stated:

    I’m delighted to join these eight exciting projects at the start of their CFA Peru journey. Their innovative ideas and approaches really showcase how the private sector is helping to tackle the climate emergency in Peru and we’re excited to partner.

    The CFA’s technical and financial experts will help them develop to get the investment that will drive not just their projects, but wider social impact. The lessons we learn will also help the Peruvian government and private sector generate capital flows for the future. I can’t wait to hear how they get on.

    By bringing together stakeholders who can develop and finance climate projects at scale, the CFA will support Peru’s efforts to meet the priorities set out in its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement.

    The project is led in Peru by Libélula. Program leader in Peru, Katherine Bocanegra, Libelula’s Head of Projects added:

    The CFA Program is a great opportunity to continue building the portfolio of sustainable and bankable projects that reduce carbon emissions in Peru. We are very excited about the results we will obtain at the end of this second phase, the projects are increasingly promising and we will do everything we can to help them access the financing they need.

    The eight projects selected for this second phase are:

    1. QUIASA Consulting SRL: Quiasa Consulting is a company that develops solutions in the oil sector with the objective of expanding the regeneration system of activated clays used in the edible oil industry, by the boil off method, for its reuse and also to obtain the residual oil by-product, which will be used as raw material for the Peruvian biofuel market.
    2. RONAP: Digital connectivity in real time to promote initiatives that raise the value of the forest, linking consumers, with a commitment to climate change, in order to make them participants in the conservation and recovery of forests, strengthening the relationship of producers/gatherers, their families and context with the biodiversity of the Amazonian ecosystems.
    3. Cartonorte EIRL: Replacing wooden crates from the indiscriminate felling of trees with biodegradable recyclable cardboard boxes for the transport of fruit harvested in the central jungle.
    4. Kara Solar Foundation: A consortium to promote solar-powered river transportation. Kara Solar, the Ecuador-Peru Binational Plan and the Conservation Strategy Fund seek to massify this transportation and energy model in the Peruvian Amazon to promote sustainable development and create a concrete response to deforestation. We will focus on the implementation of technology, training, and financial tools.
    5. SINBA: sinba is a socio-environmental company and Certified B Company founded in Lima, Peru in 2016, whose purpose is to co-create a #waste-free world, where nothing is left over and no one is left over. We recover organic waste and turn it into animal feed and fertilizers, in addition to recovering recyclable materials. Through the circular economy we reduce GHG emissions from waste by 90%, in addition to providing low-carbon raw materials for local industries.
    6. CICLO: We increase the sustainability indicators of companies in the construction sector with 2 lines of business: the integrated management of construction waste (CDW) and the sale of eco-materials that we manufacture from the recycling of this waste.
    7. Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Alto Mayo: The project consists of using coffee waste (Cascarilla) for the production and commercialization of organic fertilizers and coffee briquettes; as well as processing and commercializing soluble coffee with a new brand, located in the provinces of Moyobamba (San Martín and Jaén (Cajamarca).
    8. Bioenergy Perú SAC: Bioenergy seeks financing to increase its production capacity (CAPEX) by increasing its monthly production capacity from 2,500 MT to 4,000 MT through the acquisition of equipment, as well as the increase of working capital to acquire larger volumes of raw material.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK encourages greater use of UN sanctions regimes to counter terrorism on the continent of Africa – UK Statement at the Security Council [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK encourages greater use of UN sanctions regimes to counter terrorism on the continent of Africa – UK Statement at the Security Council [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council debate on counter-terrorism.

    Thank you President, and thank you for convening this important meeting today, consistent with your personal leadership on peace and stability to drive the Maputo Peace Accords.

    The co-ordinated response to the conflict in Northern Mozambique that you secured demonstrates the importance of regional collaboration to stem the spread of terrorism. I also thank the Secretary-General and AU Chair, President Assoumani, for their briefings.

    President, as we have heard, the terrorist threat is increasingly transnational and opportunistic, exploiting existing tensions in society. So the international community’s response needs to make the most of all of our expertise and capacity, adapted to different regional contexts as necessary. Let me highlight three priorities.

    First, the UK is committed to regional security and intelligence cooperation on the continent of Africa and around the world. We encourage collaboration between the United Nations, the African Union, and Regional Economic Communities, including in mission settings. As with UN and AU-led operations, REC-led missions must have robust compliance and accountability measures, not least to ensure that they do not feed the terrorists’ own narratives. We recognise the challenges of resourcing and sustaining such operations. We look forward to constructive discussions about how this could be improved following the SG’s upcoming report on UN-AU financing.

    Second, as we work to cut off the funding of terrorism, we encourage greater use of UN sanctions regimes on the continent of Africa, whilst ensuring continued delivery of humanitarian assistance to states responding to crises. We deeply value our cooperation with regional partners on the 751 Al Shabaab sanctions regime, we have used this to continue tightening the knot on Al Shabaab, including through sponsoring the designation of individuals associated with the group.

    Third, we welcome, and endorse, calls for counter terrorism efforts to be holistic, not just military-focussed. As we review the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, we are clear that Counter-Terrorism and Counter Violent Extremism efforts must uphold the protection of human rights, the inclusion of civil society, and the meaningful participation of women, in order to be effective. The UK is working closely with partners across Africa to strengthen security cooperation. In Kenya, for example, the UK funded the establishment of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit’s headquarters in Mombasa, as part of our $8.6 million a year investment to support Kenya’s CT efforts. We also worked with national and county government, civil society and communities to reduce the vulnerability of 800 at-risk Kenyans to radicalisation.

    President, in areas of instability, the Wagner Group is part of the problem, not the solution. For example, in Mali and the Central African Republic, we cannot ignore the destabilising role of the Wagner group as they exploit conflict and governance deficits to suck resources out of Africa where it is sorely needed, contributing to environments in which terrorism can thrive.

    President, we look forward to the Africa Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja in October as a chance to strengthen further our cooperation on this important subject.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC52 Universal Periodic Review Adoption – South Africa [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC52 Universal Periodic Review Adoption – South Africa [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    The UK’s statement for 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review adoption of South Africa.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    The United Kingdom welcomes South Africa’s engagement with the Universal Periodic Review mechanism and its response to the Report of the Working Group. We also welcome the steps that South Africa has taken to make progress on human rights since its last review, including efforts to implement a National Strategic Plan on addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

    The UK is pleased that South Africa fully supports our recommendation to strengthen measures to address violence against marginalized groups by enacting the Hate Crimes Bill in early 2023. We believe this is an important step to promote accountability and safeguard vulnerable groups.

    We reiterate our commitment to working constructively with South Africa as it seeks to strengthen its protection of human rights.

    The UK attaches great importance to the concrete steps that South Africa is committing to take to implement the recommendations it accepted, and we therefore strongly encourage South Africa to provide an update on its progress through submitting a mid-term report at the appropriate time.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile test 27 March – FCDO response [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile test 27 March – FCDO response [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a statement following North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 27 March.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 27 March are a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. 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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the UK-Poland Humanitarian Shelter Project [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the UK-Poland Humanitarian Shelter Project [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    The UK and Poland signed a joint statement on 28 March 2023 announcing a project providing homes and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

    Based on the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in autumn 2022, concerning the Joint UK-Polish project on shelter, food and complementary assistance for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in Ukraine, as well as the accompanying announcement by the UK to provide up to £10 million in funding, today we are pleased to officially open shelters for Ukrainians in Lviv in western Ukraine.

    Nine years after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and instigation of the conflict in the Donbas, and over a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has internally displaced nearly six million Ukrainians and caused another eight million to seek refuge across Europe, Poland and the UK, in concert with our allies and partners, offer our continued, unequivocal support for Ukrainian, which is bravely facing the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War.

    Just as Polish-British bonds were forged during the Battle of Britain, today we join forces in support of Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom, but that of all free nations. Today the future of European security is being determined on the territory of Ukraine. No matter how long it takes, we will support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy.

    UK-Polish co-operation in providing temporary homes for displaced Ukrainian people is yet another example of the response of the international community, and aims to provide accommodation, light and hope to the people of Ukraine. The project has supported the development of two accommodation villages, in Lviv, in the west, and in Poltava, in the east, of Ukraine, and will support Ukrainians who have fled the fighting or lost their homes due to Russian shelling. Over 700 displaced Ukrainians stand to benefit. The UK-Polish partnership will also provide £2.5 million worth of generators to support schools, hospitals and community centres across Ukraine, supporting approximately 450,000 people in areas that have been re-captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or directly affected by the fighting. Additionally, the Ukrainian Red Cross will receive up to £2.6 million for their winter appeal.

    This is one of our many humanitarian responses to Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, mounting evidence of which appears more and more clearly to constitute war crimes and therefore a clear violation of international humanitarian law, as well as being contrary to civilised norms and resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Poland partnership to provide homes and power to Ukraine [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Poland partnership to provide homes and power to Ukraine [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

    The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support a new UK-Polish partnership which will provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.

    • New partnership backed by up to £10 million in UK funding announced to provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.
    • UK-Poland partnership will provide vital temporary housing in purpose-built villages for more than 700 of the most vulnerable displaced people in Ukraine.
    • Generators to meet urgent power needs will also be provided following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over winter.

    The UK and Poland will build two major temporary villages in west and east Ukraine to provide vital housing to those forced from their homes by barbaric Russian attacks. The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support the new UK-Polish partnership, which will deliver temporary shelters, energy supplies and assistance to those who have lost their homes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    The two accommodation villages in Lviv, in western Ukraine, and Poltava, in the east will offer accommodation for more than 700 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians who have fled heavy fighting on the frontlines or lost their homes due to Russian shelling.

    More than 17.6 million people are thought to be in humanitarian need in Ukraine, with more than eight million having registered as refugees in Europe – the largest movement in Europe since the Second World War. Nearly 50% of Ukraine’s pre-war population is in need of humanitarian assistance due to the catastrophic impact of President Putin’s invasion.

    Around 6 million people are currently displaced within Ukraine, having been forced to leave their homes and facing freezing winter condition due to the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a total violation of the UN Charter and international law.

    Ongoing Russian targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also left nearly 10 million people without power. Widespread power cuts, some lasting eight to twelve hours a day, have forced families to resort to desperate measures for survival, like melting snow for water and heating bricks for warmth.

    The UK-Poland partnership will also provide £2.6 million worth of generators to support up to 450,000 people via schools, hospitals and community centres in re-taken and frontline areas, including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson. The UK and Poland are also working with the Ukrainian Red Cross, donating up to £2.5 million to support those living through extreme cold in harsh winter conditions.

    UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    For the past year, Putin has continued to target civilian homes and infrastructure, with the Ukrainian people paying a heavy price. This new UK-Poland partnership will help bring light, heat and homes to those most in need.

    The international community is resolute in our shared determination to support the Ukrainian people and see them prevail with a just peace on Ukrainian terms.

    Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said:

    Poland was first to help Ukraine already in the early morning hours of 24 February 2022. The United Kingdom followed shortly after. Today we stand together in our joint endeavours to help Ukraine and its people.

    From the pages of the Polish history we know that Ukraine is fighting not only for their freedom but also for our freedom. There is no free Europe without free Ukraine.

    Today, together with the United Kingdom, we stand side-by-side in providing shelter, warmth and above all, in providing hope for the Ukrainian IDPs, both in the west and in central-east of the country.

    The Russian aggression on Ukraine was the second act of the barbaric “Russkij mir” tragedy. The first act started nearly a decade ago with the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The third and final act will be the end of hostilities and peace written by Ukrainians.

    Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyy said:

    I would like to thank our international partners for their support and help.

    Together, we have managed to complete this project to a high standard and make the accommodation comfortable for displaced Ukrainians who needed a new and safe home in a short space of time.

    Thanks to your support, hundreds of people have got a chance for a new life, because Russia took away their old one.

    The British and Polish Ambassadors to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons and Bartosz Cichocki, attended the opening of the new accommodation village at the Lviv site yesterday [Monday], alongside key Ukrainian officials

    The UK-Poland shelter project is being delivered by Solidarity Fund Poland. It builds on Poland’s existing shelter programme in Ukraine, which has already provided housing for tens of thousands of people.

    Through our £220m humanitarian assistance, we are prioritising the most vulnerable, including women and children, the elderly and those with disabilities. To date, we have helped reach over 15.8 million people in need during this crisis.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement on attack on a US base in North East Syria on 23 March [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement on attack on a US base in North East Syria on 23 March [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 March 2023.

    UK condemns the attack on a US base in North East Syria on 23 March.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

    The UK condemns the callous attack committed against a US base in North East Syria, which killed a US national. Our thoughts are with their family and friends, and those who were wounded in the attack.

    We recognise the US’s right to use force in self-defence.

    The UK stands by its partners in the Global Coalition Against Daesh and will continue to play a leading role in the Coalition’s mission to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review of United Kingdom – Closing Statement [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review of United Kingdom – Closing Statement [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 March 2023.

    UK Ambassador Simon Manley’s closing statement during 4th Universal Periodic Review of the UK’s human rights record – Adoption of the Working Group’s Report.

    Thank you Madam Vice-President,

    I would like to thank all those – whether member states or members of civil society – who have spoken in today’s session, and who have engaged constructively with the UK’s Universal Periodic Review, throughout this cycle.

    Let me thank in particular the UK’s active civil society and National Human Rights Institutions, some of which are here today in this hall, for their contributions throughout this process. The UK Government appreciates the vital role that these organisations play in upholding and promoting human rights standards in the UK, and we look forward to further engagement with them on the UPR and human rights matters more broadly, in the future.

    The UK Government remains fully committed to the UPR mechanism, and to the protection and promotion of human rights both domestically and internationally. We continue to encourage all States to participate openly, willingly, and honestly in their reviews – as the UK has done – which provides an invaluable process through which States can share their experience in implementing a variety of policies, tackling similar problems, and learning from each other.

    During both our Review session in November, and at this meeting today, the UK has listened with interest to the views and recommendations expressed by fellow Member States on a range of human rights issues. So let me take this opportunity, Madam Vice-Chair, to respond to a number of these.

    In November, the UK received a number of recommendations on the impacts of the Bill of Rights Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 22 June last year and which will replace the Human Rights Act. As we have stated in our response, the Bill will continue to safeguard the rights contained in the Human Rights Act, and it won’t weaken human rights protections. The Bill of Rights will allow the UK to remain a State Party to the European Convention on Human Rights, while fully availing ourselves of the margin of appreciation doctrine.

    The UK’s approach to international treaties was also raised. As we have advised in our response, the UK has ratified most of the major international human rights treaties. We will consider ratification of additional human rights treaties on a case-by-case basis.

    The UK Government believes that effective domestic laws already exist, under which individuals may seek enforceable remedies in the courts if their rights have indeed been breached.

    The UN human rights treaties do not require incorporation by State Parties into domestic law, and the UK has not done so. We are confident however that the UK is in full compliance with its UN treaty obligations.

    Other issues raised in November and today include tackling racial disparities, immigration and the age of criminal responsibility.

    At our Review Meeting, British Justice Minister Freer set out the various policies and legislation in place across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to address racism and racial disparities; and the UK has been consistent in its condemnation of any kind of discrimination. On immigration, the UK is committed to upholding its obligations under international law, including the Refugee Convention and applicable human rights conventions.

    On the age of criminal responsibility, the UK Government’s position has not changed. Setting the age of criminal responsibility at 10 for England and Wales provides appropriate flexibility in dealing with children who offend, allowing for early intervention in a child’s life, with the aim of preventing subsequent offending.

    It is also right that Scotland has the autonomy to decide upon the age of criminal responsibility, as part of its competence under the UK’s devolution settlement.

    There were a number of comments made about the Illegal Migration Bill. There is an urgent humanitarian need to stop small boat crossings: over 45,000 people illegally crossed the English Channel in small boats last year. The UK Government has introduced ambitious legislation – the Illegal Migration Bill – to prevent further loss of life by disrupting the business model of people smuggling networks, which put lives at risk through dangerous and illegal crossings. This is, of course, an international problem with a record 100 million people displaced across the world. It is a problem with which many countries are trying to grapple and the UK is no different to that. We are committed to engaging with our international partners to address these challenges alongside our domestic legislation. The UK, as you will know, has a long and proud tradition of ensuring rights and liberties, to protecting them domestically, and to fulfilling our international human rights obligations. The UK is committed to its membership of the Council of Europe and to its obligations under international law, including the Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention against Trafficking. We are also doing more to help people at risk of war and persecution by setting up safe and legal routes, as we have done for Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. Since 2015, the UK has offered places of safety to nearly 480,000 people.

    Madam Vice-President,

    In concluding my closing statement, let me underline how pleased we are that the UK has increased the number of recommendations it can support since its previous review. It is, nevertheless, important to remember that these numbers do not tell the whole story. We would encourage those genuinely interested to read our Annex to the Report of the Working Group for further information, and we look forward to expanding on our position later in this UPR cycle.

    Finally Madam President,

    Let me express our sincere gratitude to our UPR Troika – Cote D’Ivoire, to the Republic of Korea and to Lithuania – as well as to the UPR Secretariat, for their diligence in preparing the Report of the Working Group on the UK’s 4th Universal Periodic Review, and for making every effort to ensuring a smooth review process.

    We look forward to meeting again for the UK’s next review in the 5th cycle.

    Thank you, Madam Vice-President.