Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

A new £14 million UK funding package is expected to reach up to 150,000 people with comprehensive health, water sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services.

• Minister for Development Vicky Ford uses a two-day visit to Ethiopia to urge for peace and pledge more support to victims of the drought affecting 24 million already vulnerable people
• support will provide hundreds of thousands of severely malnourished children, mothers and survivors of sexual violence with medical treatment, water, sanitation, basic education and mental health support
• Minister Ford will urge for an end to fighting for the sake of civilians, particularly in the north, facing violence and starvation

UK aid will help to protect women and children from the devastating impacts of violent conflict and the worst drought in 40 years in Ethiopia, Minister for Development Vicky Ford announced today [19 October] during a visit to the country.

With 24 million people affected by the drought in Ethiopia, the Minister will visit a UK-supported hospital where severely malnourished children under 5 receive life-saving treatment. The Minister will also visit a UK-funded school where children are able to get back to learning and receive mental health support after experiencing conflict and drought.

A new £14 million UK funding package is expected to reach up to 150,000 people with comprehensive health, water sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services; 50,000 people with emergency financial support and 20,000 pupils with emergency education. The funding will also protect children from violence and exploitation and provide women subject to sexual violence with mental health support.

Minister Ford made the announcement while on a two-day visit to Ethiopia to raise awareness of the impact of drought and armed conflict. She will meet with members of the Government of Ethiopia and will urge for an end to the ongoing conflict in Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, which has resulted in awful violence against civilians. The Minister will also address the conflict-related sexual violence suffered by women and girls in the region.

This is part of a wider £156 million UK commitment to humanitarian support for crises in East Africa this year.

Minister for Development, Vicky Ford said:

Ethiopia faces multiple pressing crises, including a catastrophic drought which has affected 24 million people. The escalation of fighting in northern Ethiopia has made an already dire situation even worse and left many extremely vulnerable, including women and girls.

We are a committed, long-standing partner to Ethiopia. We continue to provide life-saving healthcare, nutrition and water, which will be boosted by the £14 million funding which I have announced today.

We will continue to stand by the Ethiopian people and to call for peace. I urge the international community to act now to prevent the desperate humanitarian situation from deteriorating.

In the last 18 months, the UK has committed over £75 million of humanitarian aid to Ethiopia. This new funding brings this figure to nearly £90 million.

Last year in Ethiopia, UK funding provided nutritious food for over 200,000 malnourished women and children, provided emergency health supplies for 1 million people, provided clean water to over 200,000 people; and child protection services to over 40,000 children affected by conflict.

Background

• the humanitarian context across the region is challenging with more than 68 million people facing high levels of food insecurity
• Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia are all at risk famine
• conflict, climate extremes including flooding and drought and the key drivers of suffering in the region. The poorest communities in East Africa are also bearing the brunt of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine which has contributed to price inflation for staple goods
• the UK aims to allocate £156 million in humanitarian support across East Africa in financial year 2022 to 2023

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

UK Ambassador James Kariuki delivered the UK national statement on human rights at the UN Third Committee.

Thank you, Chair, and just to start let me say what a pleasure it is to be back in the Third Committee where I started my UN career.

Mr Chair, seventy-seven years ago the first UN Member States signed the UN Charter, “determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” while “promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

Those principles have stood the test of time, and must remain the guiding light for our work at the UN and in the Third Committee. But regrettably, today, the world remains ridden with conflict. While suffering is most acute at the front lines, millions more are impacted by the secondary effects.

Since February, Russia has waged a war of aggression against Ukraine, displaying heinous butchery and wanton destruction. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded that war crimes have been committed. Russia has deployed explosive weapons in populated areas, tortured those in unlawful confinement and some Russian soldiers have committed sexual and gender-based crimes, including against children.

In April, horrific images from Bucha and Irpin demonstrated the lengths Russia will go to to supress dissent: merciless and deliberate killing of civilians. Russia’s barbarism cannot be ignored by this Committee. Those responsible must be held to account.

Russia’s gross and systematic violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law are well documented; and it was right that the General Assembly suspended Russia’s membership of the Human Rights Council.

As Russia’s human rights record further degrades, we also welcome the HRC’s decision to examine Russia’s repression of its own citizens. We must support ordinary Russians who face brutal restrictions on fundamental freedoms. And we must recognise how this repression enables Russia’s aggression abroad.

Mr Chair, we also remain deeply concerned by the situation of the Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. The former High Commissioner for Human Rights found evidence of arbitrary detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced sterilisations and abortions, and destruction of religious sites. The wealth of evidence led her to conclude that China’s actions may constitute crimes against humanity. Rather than stifle debate and deny the findings, we urge China to implement the report’s recommendations, including by allowing independent UN experts to conduct unrestricted visits to Xinjiang.

Such systemic discrimination only reaffirms the need for our collective commitment to freedom of religion or belief. Building mutual understanding and respect between communities is essential to fighting intolerance. In July, the UK hosted a Ministerial Conference on FoRB and will never stand by while individuals live in fear of discrimination, hostility or acts of violence because of their religion, belief, or ethnicity.

This pursuit of equality is central to the UK’s human rights approach. Nowhere more so than in our efforts to advance gender equality through the protection and promotion of women’s and girls’ rights. We remain steadfast in respecting the bodily autonomy of women and girls as they exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. We must also increase efforts to prevent gender-based violence, and to eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage.

We also remain deeply alarmed by the continued proliferation of conflict related sexual violence. Next month, the UK will host a Ministerial conference to highlight the best means to prevent CRSV, improve justice and accountability, and understand ways to better support survivors.

Mr Chair, we recognise the vital role of civil society in the promotion of human rights. The UK looks forward to joining the NGO Committee in January. Through our membership, we will continue to champion civil society participation, both in the field and in discussions at the UN.

Mr Chair, we can all do better to uphold our human rights obligations. We must act now and fight impunity wherever it may occur.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

Joint statement delivered by Ireland on behalf of the UK and 78 countries on reprisals at the UN Third Committee.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Central African Republic.

Thank you President. I thank SRSG Rugwabiza for her briefing and I also welcome the participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of CAR and the representative of Rwanda.

I will make three points in response to what we have heard today.

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the progress on the political track including steps to implement the Peace Agreement and preparations to hold local elections in January 2023. We strongly encourage the CAR authorities, with MINUSCA’s support, to build on political progress and ensure meaningful engagement with civil society, including women.

Second, freedom of movement is fundamental to MINUSCA’s work. We welcome the recent reductions in status-of-forces agreement violations and more widely the positive relationship that the SRSG has established with the CAR authorities. We very much hope this trend will continue.

We also encourage the CAR government to work in partnership with the UN Mine Action Service to tackle landmines and IEDs with more urgency. Explosive devices are a grave threat to civilian populations and their access to humanitarian assistance, as well as to the safety and security of peacekeepers. I join others in expressing deep concern at the attack of 3 October in which three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and one injured, and offer sincere condolences to their families and to Bangladesh.

Third, the UK is alarmed by the dramatic increase in the number of human rights violations and abuses reflected in the Secretary-General’s report. The violence in the Central African Republic, including conflict-related sexual violence, continues to take a distressing toll on the population. It compounds an already acute humanitarian situation and risks undermining progress on reconciliation. The targeting of civilians not only by armed groups, but also by national forces and the Russian mercenary group Wagner, continue to play a destabilising role in the country and will not help long-term peace as others have also emphasised today. We call on the CAR Government to conduct full and timely investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses, to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.

Finally, President, we welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend MINUSCA’s mandate. It is vital that the Security Council supports MINUSCA’s crucial efforts to help the CAR Government build lasting peace. The SRSG and her team has our full support.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

Cross-regional joint statement by 71 countries at the UN Third Committee.

Today at the UN General Assembly Third Committee for Human Rights, the UK, Mexico, Liberia, Albania, Nepal, and the US co-led a cross-regional joint statement on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality.

With over 70 co-signatories to the statement, this is a demonstration of Member States’ commitment to protecting and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights in our work at the UN.

Minister Ford said:

“The UK’s vision is a world where women and girls have control over their own bodies, lives, and futures free from coercion and violence. To achieve this we must have strong, coordinated global ambition and action to support all women and girls to realise their rights. Today I am proud that we are leading the way with 71 of our partners from across the globe. Our historic joint statement at the UNGA Third Committee on Human Rights co-led with Mexico, Liberia, Albania, Nepal and US, has reiterated our commitment to work tirelessly together to advance gender equality and support the human rights of all women and girls everywhere.”

Cross-regional joint statement by 71 countries at the UN Third Committee

Statement delivered by Liberia on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

Mr. Chair,

Over the past three years, the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us that gains on human rights and development are fragile and can never be taken as granted. The pandemic, and the measures needed to tackle it, have also disproportionately affected women and girls coming at a time when over twenty-five years of hard-fought gains on women’s rights were already seriously under threat. We continue seeing increasing attempts to unravel the international consensus on the importance of gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights.

Too many women and girls are still denied the right to make decisions about their own lives and are subject to sexual and gender-based violence, including harmful practices, with the tragic reality that one in three women worldwide has experienced violence in her lifetime. We must not waver in our commitment to promote, protect, respect, and fulfil the human rights of all women and girls across the globe. Persons in situations of vulnerability, especially women, adolescents and girls, must be kept at the center of our efforts. We must ensure that we continue to strive for a world grounded in principles of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination. We are determined to accelerate global action with attention to fostering resilience against shocks with a gender lens.

First, we know that societies that protect and promote the human rights of all women and girls and empower them economically and politically are more stable, peaceful, equal and prosperous. Women must be empowered to make their own choices and decide their own future, which is central to reaching their full potential, realizing gender equality and achieving sustainable development.  We must respect the bodily autonomy of women and girls throughout their lives by supporting them in exercising their sexual and reproductive rights, preventing all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination and eliminating harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage. Therefore, policies aimed at empowering women and girls must advance comprehensive access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, supporting all women and adolescents to make their own sexual and reproductive health decisions, including whether, when, and how many children to have, and to experience safe and supported pregnancy and childbirth.

Second, women and girls lift up their communities and we cannot build stronger societies without their full, equal and meaningful participation across all levels of decision-making.  Without access to sexual and reproductive health services and information on their rights, women and girls may experience barriers to full, equal and meaningful participation in the achievement of sustainable development.  As efforts turn to rebuilding and recovering from the pandemic, we must continue to advance gender equality and inclusive governance, particularly the meaningful inclusion and participation of adolescents and youth in decision-making. The world has the largest generation of young people ever.  They are making their voices heard, rightfully demanding participation, agency and leadership.  We must engage them meaningfully as equal partners in creating the path forward. Investing in healthy and educated adolescents, their capabilities, empowerment and resilience, the fulfillment of their human rights and gender equality, and their own ability for positive civic action and change is essential to build a brighter and inclusive future.

Third, the world must remain committed to accelerating the achievement of the SDGs and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

In closing Mr. Chair, rest assured that we will work tirelessly together to promote the human rights of all women and girls everywhere, including here through the negotiations of this Committee, under your most able leadership.

I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2022.

Nick Ryder (FCDO) highlights the appalling environmental damage caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, and efforts needed to rebuild Ukraine and its environment.

Thank you Mr Chair. Good morning from London. I would like to thank the Secretary General and the three panellists for their interventions. It is right that the OSCE continues to focus on this topic. Climate change remains an existential threat to our shared environment.

Mr Chair, as Mr Fedorenko, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has so eloquently set out, the environment is yet another casualty of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have seen appalling environmental damage to Ukraine, such as degradation and pollution of land and water, which will take decades to remedy. Russia’s reckless attacks on nuclear facilities risk a catastrophe that could cause continent-wide contamination.

Russia is weaponising energy to support its illegal war and we cannot let it succeed. Energy should never be used as a tool of political coercion. Many countries have now recognised Russia as an unreliable supplier and are limiting their consumption of Russian hydrocarbons which are helping to fund Putin’s war machine. This is why the UK plans to phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of this year. Reducing our collective dependence on Putin’s oil and gas has a practical as well as moral imperative.

Russian forces have destroyed city after city in Ukraine. Helping to rebuild the country and its natural environment will be one of the great tasks for our generation. The UK and our allies will continue to make substantial financial and economic support available to Ukraine to strengthen the resilience of its economy. The UK calls upon the international community to put the principles of environmental protection and sustainable, low carbon development at the heart of this reconstruction effort.

Mr Chair, the brutal attacks in Ukraine have shown the environmental damage that militaries can do. But even militaries at peace can have significant environmental impact. In the UK for example, defence accounts for 50% of central government emissions. In future, our armed forces will embrace the green energy transition, trialling new types of vehicles, fuels standards, and energy storage. Our defence ministry’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach report sets out how we will do this.

Mr. Chair, I wish to conclude by highlighting again the importance of this topic. As we have seen in our own region, including recently in Central Asia, climate-related disruptions risk straining existing international security arrangements, creating new geostrategic flashpoints, and raising the potential for further inter-state military competition and conflict.

Finally, we once again call on Russia to cease all hostilities and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from all of Ukraine. Wars not only damage the environment but they also divert attention and resources away from addressing existential climate challenges and break down the cooperation needed to address them.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2022.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Kosovo.

Thank you Mr President. We thank the Special Representative for her briefing. And we welcome the representatives of Kosovo and Serbia to the Security Council.

The United Kingdom welcomes the continued progress made by the Government of Kosovo on a number of important issues, this includes:

Its continued commitment to reform, notably important work on the rule of law, and tackling organised crime and corruption.

It includes Kosovo’s efforts to improve support to victims of Sexual and Gender based violence, and the integration of the Istanbul Convention into its Constitution.

And it includes its work on transitional justice, not least for survivors of conflict related sexual violence, as well as the work of the Government Commission for Missing Persons.

Recent reports from both the EU and the OSCE also show good progress on countering terrorism, public administration reform, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and the protection of human and fundamental rights.

We welcome the government’s increased engagement with minority communities. Dialogue between communities is vital for the stability of Kosovo as a multi-ethnic state, and we encourage the Kosovan government to continue such engagement.

In particular we encourage greater outreach to Kosovo Serb political leaders and representatives to resolve outstanding issues.

President, the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains vital. We reiterate our full support for the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.

Now is the moment for both parties to engage in the Dialogue in good faith, honour their Dialogue commitments, and avoid actions or rhetoric that could reduce prospects for reaching a comprehensive and sustainable normalisation agreement, benefiting the people of both countries.

The progress referred to in the Secretary-General’s report, for example on the adoption of an energy agreement roadmap, is encouraging. But we were concerned to witness the rise in tensions on 31 July over the implementation of government decisions on car number plates and ID cards. Such decisions should not be used as an excuse for blockades or violence.

We therefore welcome the resolution of the disagreement over ID cards, facilitated through the determined efforts of the EU Special Representative and international partners. This is a clear example of what can be achieved when both parties approach the process with pragmatism.

Finally, President, UNMIK has played a vital role in the incredible progress Kosovo has made since resolution 1244 was adopted in 1999. Conditions on the ground are of course unrecognisable from 1999, and it would be the right time now to undertake a thorough review of UNMIK’s shape and role, and of the Council’s process that we have around it.

In the meantime the UK would like to reiterate its gratitude to the Special Representative and the mission for all of their work, and for the professional implementation of their mandate.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council Quarterly Briefing on Mali.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2022.

The British High Commission in Pretoria has welcomed the news that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom to meet The King and The Queen Consort.

This is the first invitation of a State Visit made by His Majesty King Charles III.

British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson said:

I am delighted that President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Dr Tshepo Motsepe, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty King Charles III to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday, 22 November to Thursday, 24 November 2022. The King and The Queen Consort will host the State Visit at Buckingham Palace.

This will be the first State Visit hosted by His Majesty. It reflects the importance of the relationship between South Africa and the United Kingdom. The visit will offer a chance to celebrate our modern-day partnerships delivering prosperity and security for both countries, as well as to set out how we can work together bilaterally and globally to strengthen those links for the future.

Over the next few weeks the British High Commission will work closely with the Presidency, the Department for International Relations and Cooperation, and the South African government to finalise the details of the President’s State Visit.

His Majesty The King has visited South Africa on a number of occasions. His Majesty’s first visit was to Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town from 31 October to 5 November 1997. The King and The Queen Consort also visited Pretoria and Johannesburg from 2 to 6 November 2011. The King and Queen Consort also attended the funeral of President Nelson Mandela on 15 December 2013.

Her Late Majesty The Queen invited President Nelson Mandela to pay a State Visit to the UK in July 1996. She also invited President Thabo Mbeki to pay a State Visit to the UK in June 2001, and President Jacob Zuma to pay a State Visit to the UK in March 2010.

The press release from Buckingham Palace announcing the State Visit can be found here: Announcement of the State Visit by the President of South Africa (PDF, 156 KB, 2 pages).

Further details of the State Visit programme will be announced in due course.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 October 2022.

Statement by UK Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council briefing on Haiti.

Thank you, President. And thank you to SRSG La Lime for her sobering briefing this afternoon. I recognise the presence of the representatives of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Belize, and the Francophonie at the Council. Let me make three points today on behalf of the United Kingdom.

First, we remain deeply concerned with the deterioration of the humanitarian situation within Haiti. Armed gangs are blockading roads and restricting the transport of fuel throughout the country. As a result medical services are unable to reach those people most in need, including those affected by the outbreaks of cholera which have exacerbated the misery of the Haitian people. Fuel must be able to reach hospitals, and routes into hospitals must be cleared so those affected can reach them. Perpetrators of gang violence must be held to account and denied the capacity to spread further instability and suffering. In this regard, we welcome the sanctions resolution proposed by the US and Mexico as a positive contribution for the security and stability of Haiti.

Second, Mr. President, we acknowledge the Haitian Government’s urgent request for international support in tackling the current security situation. We welcome further Council discussion on the authorisation of an international security assistance mission as proposed by the Secretary-General. Led by Haitian needs, the international community should help restore effective governance and combat endemic gang violence. International efforts should also support an environment in which free and fair elections can be held as soon as possible.

Third, the United Kingdom offers its full support to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, who continue to operate in deeply challenging circumstances. BINUH has provided invaluable assistance to the Haitian government over the course of its mandate. It will play a key role in creating the space for political stakeholders to agree a solution that restores security and stability for the Haitian people.

Thank you.