Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

UK statement on Climate delivered at UN Second Committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair,

On behalf of the United Kingdom, I would like to thank Ms Leticia Zamora of Costa Rica for her work facilitating this important resolution. We are pleased to join consensus on this priority issue.

In the spirit of protecting the global climate for present and future generations, the UK entered negotiations across the Second Committee with the aim of maintaining ambition on internationally agreed outcomes which were successfully achieved at COP26 in Glasgow last year, to safeguard commitments made and keep 1.5C alive. Climate change is affecting countries ever more than before, with particular risks for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, which often bear the brunt of the impacts.

We are pleased that this resolution reaffirms efforts to limit global temperature increases to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, urges updating Nationally Determined Contributions in line with the global temperature goal, and calls on countries to scale up clean power generation, while accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power and phasing-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

The UK also congratulates Egypt on completing a successful COP27, and welcomes the outcomes which build on previous commitments, including those aimed at helping the most vulnerable countries. We look forward to working together with all of you to ensure full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and the outcomes of the UNFCCC COP26 and COP27 climate change conferences, to accelerate progress towards SDG13 and tackle the climate crisis.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

UK statement on International Trade and Development delivered at UN Second Committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair

We would like to thank Royston Alkins of Guyana for his work facilitating this resolution, and Felipe Costa of Brazil and Dinushi Rupathunga of Sri Lanka for proposing it on behalf of the G77+China.

We reluctantly called a vote on part of this resolution to highlight that we are unable to endorse language on unilateral sanctions in OP25, but we are pleased to join consensus on the broader adoption of this resolution.

The UK recognises that an open, transparent and predictable international trade system helps countries to grow their economies, create decent jobs, raise incomes, and lift people out of poverty.

We are pleased that this resolution acknowledges progress made at the twelfth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation earlier this year, on global food security, pandemic preparedness, the TRIPS Agreement, and fisheries.

We are also pleased it includes a UK proposal recognising efforts to extend preferential market access to a larger number of developing countries.

The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme will come into effect in early 2023, and aims to support sustainable growth in developing countries through reducing tariffs, liberalising rules of origin requirements, and simplifying other conditions.

It will apply to Least Developed Countries and other low-income and lower-middle income countries with whom the UK does not yet have Free Trade Agreements.

Madam Chair,

I regret we cannot endorse language on sanctions in OP24 of this resolution, which is why we called for a paragraph vote.

The UK and others use autonomous sanctions to deter, constrain, signal against, and change egregious behaviour of individuals and entities around the world, including serious human rights violations, weapons proliferation, and corruption.

These sanctions are carefully targeted, and provide for exceptions and licensing grounds to support humanitarian assistance.

The UK has recently issued General Licences to provide more clarity for humanitarian providers, so that food and fertiliser can meeting acute global demand. We also recently supported the US/Ireland initiative to introduce specific humanitarian provisions across all UN sanctions regimes.

We look forward to continuing to work with developing countries to strengthen international trade which can support sustainable development and progress towards achieving the SDGs.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

UK statement on Tax delivered at UN Second Committee.

Thank you, Madam Chair,

We would like to thank Oche Agbo of Nigeria for his work facilitating this resolution, and Hashim Abubakar of Nigeria for proposing it on behalf of the Africa Group.

In 2015, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda recognised international tax cooperation as a vital component of Financing For Development.

The UK strongly supports developing countries’ efforts to scale-up domestic resource mobilisation to finance sustainable development.

We are funding peer-to-peer capacity-building for revenue authorities in African countries including Ghana and Rwanda; contributing to the UNDP/OECD Tax Inspectors Without Borders initiative; and currently chair the OECD Forum on Tax Administration’s Capacity Building Network.

We are also committed to building a fairer international tax system for all, including developing countries.

We champion this work through the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which uniquely has the technical expertise and political support to advance this agenda effectively.

Together, we have made significant progress. The Global Forum on Tax Transparency, the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, and the OECD’s Two-Pillar Solution are strengthening our collective ability to address tax evasion and avoidance, combat harmful tax practices, and tackle evolving challenges posed by digitalisation.

We have worked strenuously to ensure these initiatives uphold the commitment at Addis that international tax cooperation be “universal in approach and scope and should fully take into account the different needs and capacities of all countries”.

The OECD-housed initiatives are open to all. OECD and non-OECD members participate in these fora on an equal footing. The UK supports efforts to strengthen inclusivity and the voice of developing countries in these mechanisms still further.

We do acknowledge that developing countries have concerns, including regarding capacity and inclusion, and will want to ensure that this work delivers benefits for them.

So we understand the Africa Group’s desire to address this at Second Committee.

We voted in favour of the amendments proposed by the United States because the language in OP2 prejudges new initiatives at the United Nations, which could duplicate and potentially undermine existing OECD work at a crucial point in implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution.

Nevertheless, we are pleased to join consensus and look forward to the Secretary-General’s report and contributing to its drafting.

Instead of recommending new, potentially duplicative work, we hope the report will focus on recommendations for strengthening the OECD-housed initiatives so that they meet the ambition of Addis and ensure the benefit to developing countries is maximised.

The G20/OECD Roadmap on Developing Countries and International Tax, endorsed by G20 Leaders last week, should be a primary reference. This sets out clear recommendations, such as increasing provision of capacity-building, reform of country-by-country reporting, and increasing developing countries’ voice in negotiations. The UK fully supports these recommendations and is working to implement them.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

UK statement on Small Island Developing States delivered at UN Second Committee.

Thank you Madame Chair.

The United Kingdom would like to thank Mr. Vladamir Budhu from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, for his excellent facilitation of the ‘SAMOA Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States’; and the G77 negotiator, Mr. Tumasie Blair, from the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda.

The UK is pleased to join consensus on this resolution, and we welcome the outcomes of this year’s text. It affirms the significant challenges that SIDS face in accessing sufficient financing for sustainable development, including concessional and climate finance. Our discussions also progressed planning for the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This will be a critical opportunity to drive forward global action and coordination to better support SIDS sustainable development. We look forward to being a strong partner for this work.

The UK is committed to working with governments, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and multilateral development banks to scale up support to address the unique challenges experienced by SIDS.

We are pleased that the resolution references the Call to Action on Access to Finance, and an invitation for Member States to join the ‘Friends of SIDS’ group. The UK affirms the position set out in the Glasgow Climate Pact that vulnerability should guide decisions on the allocation of finance, and hope this will be included in future resolutions. We look forward to the final report from the High-Level Panel on the Development of a Multidimensional Index next year, which should enable better targeting of financing towards climate-vulnerable countries. The UK looks forward to engaging with further consultations over the coming months.

We would also like to encourage all partners to engage with the ‘Principles for Improved Aid Impact in SIDS’, which will be launched next month at the Effective Development Cooperation Conference in Geneva. The Principles have been developed in partnership with AOSIS, Canada, UN agencies and OECD. They aim to improve the quality and effectiveness of aid to SIDS through guidance, responding to SIDS challenges on aid quality and proposing positive changes.

This resolution is an important step forward on some of the key issues affecting SIDS, and we look forward to working with you on them.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

Thank you, Madam Chair,

The UK fully aligns with the statement delivered by Canada.

Let me start by commending the excellent efforts of our co-facilitators, El Salvador and Morocco, throughout this process, and for putting forward a text, that although not perfect, was the best path to consensus during a difficult negotiation process. We sincerely regret that silence was broken at the last minute by a small minority of Member States.

The UK has been at the vanguard of standing up for the rights of women and girls around the world. We remain committed to fulfil every girl’s right to quality education; to empower women socially, economically, and politically; to end violence against women and girls; and to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights.

It was with this intention that we worked to strengthen this resolution. Next year marks the half-way point in the journey to achieve the SDGs, the clock is ticking. This year’s discussion presented an opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to moving the dial forward on gender equality and achieving SDG5.

But we regret that efforts to strengthen the resolution and respond to the evidence detailed in the Secretary General’s report were not considered acceptable by some. Particularly on gender-responsive climate action, violence against women and girls, and women and girls’ access to health services, in particular universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

We also sincerely regret the persistent backlash against women and girls’ rights from a small minority of Member States. Let me be clear, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination is agreed and important language: people do not live single-issue lives where they experience sexism, racism and ableism separately. We need to depoliticize this important issue if we are to truly tackle inequality.

Madam Chair, to finish, we welcome the approval of the amendments brought forward by the EU, allowing us to join consensus. However, we do question the merit in adopting a text every two years that does not move us forward in our work to achieve gender equality. We hope future Second Committee discussions on this important issue reflect the actual situation for women and girls around the world, and the urgency at which we need act to if we are to achieve SDG5 by 2030.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

UK statement on Least Developed Countries delivered at UN Second Committee.

Madame Chair,

Let me begin by congratulating you and the Bureau for your able stewardship of the Second Committee’s work this year.

The United Kingdom would like to thank Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Thani from the Permanent Mission of Qatar, for his excellent facilitation of the ‘Follow-up to the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries.’ We would also like to thank the G77+ representative, Mr. Nirupam Dev Nath, from the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh, and the LDCs Chair representative, Ms. Dorcas Mwango, from the Permanent Mission of Malawi for their constructive engagement.

The UK is pleased with the outcomes of this year’s text, as it advocates for international solidarity in support of the Doha Programme of Action. We need renewed global partnership and targeted focus, with full mobilization of the UN system, for sustainable and resilient development in LDCs. This resolution is a step in the right direction.

The UK is committed to working with LDCs, development partners, and multilateral institutions to progress the six priority areas in the Doha Programme of Action. We look forward to participating in the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs in March at a high-level, to advance this critical agenda.

The United Kingdom will continue to support the global goal of providing at least 0.2% of our gross national income to LDCs. However, we know we must go further than this. Partnership between public and private sectors will be essential to meet the SDG financing gap, which is why we will also mobilise up to £8 billion of UK-backed financing per year by 2025 through British Investment Partnerships.

The UK is also committed to addressing food insecurity in LDCs, which was a key area of discussion in this negotiation. We are working alongside partners – such as the UN-led Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, the G7 Global Alliance for Food Security, the Roadmap – Call to Action and the EU-led Solidarity Lanes – to meet humanitarian needs. We are keeping food and fertilisers moving, providing emergency funding, improving resilience, and accelerating transition to sustainable food systems that will withstand future challenges in places experiencing food crises.

As we approach 2030, we must accelerate action and ambition to deliver the Doha Programme of Action and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable first. You can count on the UK’s support.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush criticises the Russian government and military for reported violations of international humanitarian law in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Thank you to both co-chairs for hosting this joint Permanent Council-Forum for Security Cooperation (PC-FSC) meeting on this important issue. I wish to thank the two speakers for their interventions. The UK continues to fully support the crucial work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its unique role in upholding International Humanitarian Law (IHL). It is vital that we all uphold our commitments on IHL.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have been seriously concerned about Russian violations of International Humanitarian Law. The two Moscow Mechanism reports show we were right to be concerned. The reports noted “clear patterns of serious violations of IHL attributable mostly to the Russian armed forces”. Including the magnitude and frequency of the indiscriminate attacks. Carried out against civilians and civilian objects. Reports of torture. The execution of civilians. Unlawful detention. Enforced disappearances. Targeting civilians on their streets, in their cars, on their bicycles, on their balconies and in their homes. Victim-activated booby traps.  The rape of women. The rape of children. Violence towards men. The killing of journalists. Targeting of hospitals, of schools. The use of cluster munitions. Shallow graves. The threat of cholera. The use of filtration centres. These constitute an affront to humanity.

Furthermore, ODIHR’s Interim Report expressed “clear concern” for Russia’s “general disregard” for the “basic principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions set out by IHL, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”.

Mr Chair, the targeting of critical civilian infrastructure has continued since these reports were published. Russia is trying to maximise civilian hardship over winter. Last week up to 10 million households were left without electricity. Water supplies have been hit. And we know that vulnerable groups suffer disproportionately – be it the elderly, those with medical conditions or disabilities. As President Putin will be aware, attacks which disproportionately kill civilians, and destroy objects indispensable to the survival of civilians, are prohibited under international humanitarian law. Evidence of war crimes has been mounting including in Bucha, Irpin Borodianka and Izyum with more and more allegations coming to light in Kherson. These actions are morally bankrupt.

Both Moscow Mechanism reports document acts of sexual violence carried out by members of the Russian Armed Forces. This evidence exists because of the bravery of survivors, who, by telling their stories, break down stigma and enable justice. Their courage is striking when juxtaposed with the cowardice of their attackers, who hide behind propaganda spread by Russian government officials. Denying crimes of sexual violence is tantamount to defending them. Colleagues, I repeat the message that the UK has delivered many times: the use of sexual violence as a weapon is a war crime. We, the international community, will end impunity for sexual violence and hold those responsible to account.

And it is not only civilians suffering. There is mounting evidence that Russia has failed to abide by its obligations under the third Geneva Convention – that all prisoners of war should be treated humanely, afforded appropriate medical treatment and basic necessities, and be protected from humiliating and degrading treatment. The UN Officer of the High Commissioner of Human Rights has documented the use by Russian forces in Ukraine of prolonged beatings, dog attacks and putting people in stress positions. Mr Chair – Wars have rules and these prohibit a detaining power from prosecuting prisoners of war for having participated in hostilities, or for lawful acts of war committed in the course of armed conflict.

We need accountability. Those members of the Russian Government and individual members of the Russian military who have breached international humanitarian law and committed war crimes must be held to account. We are working through the OSCE, with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General and with international bodies like the International Criminal Court to pursue accountability for these crimes. The countless victims of Russia’s illegal invasion deserve justice.

In closing, every day since the 24 February, we have seen the tragic consequences in Ukraine of Russia’s aggression, but every day we have also been reminded of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. The United Kingdom will continue to do everything we can to support Ukraine, including through diplomacy, humanitarian aid and supporting accountability. The single biggest step to preventing further breaches of international humanitarian law in the OSCE area would be for Russia to withdraw fully and unconditionally from the whole territory of Ukraine. Let us ensure that becomes a reality.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

British and South African researchers will save lives in the UK, South Africa and beyond – thanks to 9 collaborative research projects announced today.

• UK and South Africa launch new agreement on health, building on close work on climate and other global challenges.
• commitment made as South African President Ramaphosa, UK Health Secretary and HRH The Earl of Wessex visit the Crick Institute, the biggest biomedical research facility in Europe, and Kew Gardens
• additional UK funding will aid future pandemic preparedness across 18 African countries

British and South African researchers will save lives in the UK, South Africa and beyond – thanks to 9 collaborative research projects announced today.

Institutions from across the UK and South Africa will undertake research into vital issues from health systems and financing to mental health and surgery.

The projects formed part of a new agreement to enhance the UK-South Africa health partnership, signed by the South African Health Minister and UK Health Secretary today at the Francis Crick Institute in London, during the President of South Africa’s State Visit.

The new agreement also includes new UK funding to bolster South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases and is supporting genomic sequencing to improve antimicrobial resistance surveillance on the African continent.

With UK support, more than 17,000 genomes have been sequenced to date in South Africa. The new support will enable detection of dangerous diseases faster across at least 18 African countries, building resilience into our health systems and protecting the world against future pandemics.

The partnership will prioritise building vaccine manufacturing in Africa so that vaccines can be developed and reach those who need them faster, including the most vulnerable. This in turn will mean the world will be better prepared for future pandemics.

The UK and South Africa are also working together to protect global health systems from the increasing threat of climate change.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

It is vital for countries across the world to work together to tackle global challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness. This will benefit us all.

The UK and South Africa have shown global leadership in joining together to protect people by preventing the spread of dangerous diseases, and by working to halt climate change – including through the ground-breaking Just Energy Transition Partnership, to help countries move away from using fossil fuels.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Strengthening the partnership between the UK and South Africa is not only crucial in improving health and patient outcomes in both countries but it is also vital to add to the global resilience of our health systems.

Through this partnership we will reinforce our shared commitment to ensuring the world is better prepared for future pandemics through joint research and building capability for disease surveillance including antimicrobial resistance.

It was excellent to meet President Ramaphosa at the Francis Crick Institute, where staff showcased the best of innovative research technology the UK has to offer. I look forward to building on this important relationship with South Africa in the months ahead, to drive more effective global health systems, promote clinical and regulatory excellence and above all protect patient safety.

UK Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Thérèse Coffey, and His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex also accompanied President Ramaphosa to Kew’s Royal Botanical Gardens, where a partnership with South African institutions is helping to preserve biodiversity and address climate change.

A long-term partnership between Kew and South Africa National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), a key player in South Africa’s sustainable development, is ensuring the long-term survival of South Africa’s exceptionally rich plant diversity. The President and the Minister were able to see the flourishing fauna, such as the King Protea and heard from Kew’s experts on biodiversity.

UK Secretary of State for the Environment Thérèse Coffey said:

This visit highlights the fantastic biodiversity of South Africa and our longstanding scientific collaboration to protect nature. Both countries are working together to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

At the upcoming UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Montreal, we will work together to accelerate global efforts to end species extinction, increase protections and support a sustainable future for our planet.

Recognising South Africa’s status as one of the world’s most nature diverse countries, Ministers discussed the importance of the upcoming negotiations for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Montreal. The negotiations are an opportunity for the globe to agree a Paris moment for nature, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to significantly increase the mobilisation of resources to tackle nature loss.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

The UK and South Africa share a strong commitment to upholding women’s rights and gender equality at home and overseas.

Our respective national laws and policy enshrine equality, ensuring that no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation every individual has a right to equal opportunity and a life free from violence and discrimination. Both the UK and South Africa were consistently strong voices in efforts to secure a Global Goal on Gender equality, including objectives to address violence against women and girls and improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Our shared commitment to addressing gender-based violence is highlighted this very month through South Africa’s Presidential Summit on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide, hosted by President Ramaphosa at the beginning of November in Pretoria and the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict conference, hosted by the UK at the end of this month during the global 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. The UK is also pleased to be continuing its partnership with South Africa’s Gender Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund.

While much progress has been made since the international community agreed the Global Goals, including Gender Goal 5, it is clear that significant challenges remain until we realise our shared ambition. The COVID-19 pandemic shone a shocking spotlight on the scourge of intimate partner violence around the world, including in the UK and South Africa.

In recent years we have witnessed movements seeking to undermine the right of a woman to make decisions about her body. We will not stand by and watch any rollback of women’s rights. This is why, alongside our ongoing work to improve gender equality at home, the UK and South Africa commit to working together to uphold women’s rights internationally.

We will strengthen our partnership and use our position in global fora to galvanise progress toward Gender Goal 5, uphold women’s rights and create a more equal society for all.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

• Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit Vanuatu and Australia this week
• she will attend the Conference of the Pacific Community to boost diplomatic links with the region
• Minister will then travel to Australia for talks on trade and security

Underlining the UK’s commitment to deepening ties with the Pacific Islands, Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will today (23 November) arrive in Vanuatu for her first overseas trip, following her appointment as an FCDO Minister last month.

Minister Trevelyan will hold talks with Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jotham Napat about the priorities of their recently-elected government.

As a Commonwealth partner on the frontline of climate change, the UK works closely with Vanuatu to strengthen maritime security, climate resilience as well as capacity building in the region.

The Minister will then attend the 12th Conference of the Pacific Community to build closer diplomatic ties with leaders from across the region. Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that constitute the bloc will attend for talks on climate change, development, science and innovation.

The region remains critical to delivering on key UK priorities, including securing an open and stable Indo-Pacific, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Many Pacific Islands have small populations and face geographic isolation and vulnerability to natural disasters. Rising sea levels could see some countries uninhabitable within 4 decades.

The UK is working with these small island developing states to build a cleaner, safer and more resilient future, including through the Blue Planet Fund, which will support economic development while protecting nature and increasing climate resilience.

Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

On my first trip as Minister for the Indo-Pacific, I want to underline the UK’s steadfast commitment to the region and how we can work together to bolster global prosperity and security.

The UK will deepen our engagement in the Pacific, a region where we have a close history, many friends, and share the values of sovereignty, territorial integrity and free trade.

Vanuatu is on the front line of the climate emergency, and we are working with them alongside other partners to accelerate global action on tackling climate change.

During the conference, Minister Trevelyan will hold talks with her counterparts from across the Pacific and support their work addressing climate change, security and prosperity.

The UK is working with the region to deliver its 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which sets out Pacific countries’ vision for a cleaner, safer and more resilient future.

While in Vanuatu’s capital, the Minister will co-host a dinner with the New Zealand High Commissioner to celebrate women in leadership across the Pacific, alongside Vanuatu’s Deputy Speaker Gloria Julia King.

She will also join young volunteers with community group and non-profit organisation Wan Smolbag to hear how they are affected by and adapting to climate change. The group operates across the South Pacific, running programmes to boost youth engagement on education, health and the environment.

Following her visit to Vanuatu, the Minister will travel to Australia, arriving on 25 November. She will attend talks with her Foreign and Defence Ministry counterparts to discuss UK-Australia security and defence cooperation, including the AUKUS agreement.