Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

Ambassador Simon Manley delivered a general comment ahead of the draft decision to hold a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.

Mr President,

The United Kingdom has consistently raised the grave human rights situation in Xinjiang. We are not alone in our concerns. Indeed, since our first joint statement on this issue at the UN General Assembly back in 2019, the growing number of countries from around the world have spoken up – including here at the Human Rights Council.

We have heard concerns from elsewhere too. Special Procedure mandate holders, Treaty Bodies and Non-Governmental organisations have all repeatedly expressed alarm following numerous reports of gross violations and systemic discrimination over several years.

There has been no shortage of reports on Xinjiang. But the recently published assessment by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the most significant to date. We now have a thorough, objective and independent assessment from the principle UN human rights body which confirms our worst fears.

If I may quote the exact words of the assessment – “the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of the Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”.

These crimes include – torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced sterilisations, severe restrictions on freedom of religion and belief and forced disappearances on a massive scale.

And what is all the more significant is that so many of those findings are based on official public information from the Chinese authorities – corroborated by other sources.

Our ask today is a simple one – a debate at the next session of this Council. Given the harrowing details and serious findings by the Office of the High Commissioner – this really is the minimum that an assessment of this nature should lead to.

So, Mr President, I urge us to remember why we are here. We are members of the Human Rights Council. We are here to raise situations of systemic discrimination. We are here to discuss the most serious human rights violations and abuses, wherever and by whomever they are committed. There can be no doubt that the gravity and scale of what has been reported in Xinjiang warrants such a debate.

I therefore appeal to our fellow members of this Council to do what is right. Not to turn a blind eye. But to support the decision simply to have a debate. No more, no less.

Thank you, Mr President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

Ms Jill Morris CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye in succession to Sir Dominick Chilcott KCMG who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Ms Morris will take up her appointment during January 2023.

Full name: Jill Morris

Curriculum vitae

2016 to 2022	Rome, Her Late Majesty’s Ambassador to Italy and Her Late Majesty’s Non-Resident Ambassador to San Marino
2012 to 2015	FCO, Director, Europe
2011	FCO, Head, Counter-Proliferation Department
2008 to 2010	FCO, Head, Consular Strategy Department
2006 to 2008	Brussels, Counsellor, UK Permanent Representation to the EU
2005 to 2006	Brussels, Desk Officer – External Relations, UK Permanent Representation to the EU
2001 to 2005	Nicosia, Second Secretary
1999 to 2000	FCO, Desk Officer, United Nations Department
1999	Joined FCO

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

Ambassador Simon Manley introduced a resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

Thank you Mr President.

I have the honour to introduce draft resolution L1 Rev 1 entitled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ which has been proposed by a group of states comprising Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The text is largely based on last year’s resolution but has been updated to reflect some of the key developments over the last 18 months in what has been a rather dramatic time for Sri Lanka – an economic crisis, mass protests, and a change in government, all of which have had a significant bearing on the human rights situation in the country.

The draft both recognises the challenges which Sri Lanka has faced during this period and acknowledges progress where this has occurred.

It reflects some of the more recent concerns outlined in the High Commissioner’s report, especially the human rights impact of the economic crisis.

And it also addresses several longstanding issues which still need to be addressed. These include the lack of accountability for past violations, the many unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, the need for Sri Lanka to meet its own commitments on the devolution of political authority, as well as the need to uphold the rights of all people in Sri Lanka including Tamils and Muslims.

The main requests in the resolution are in Operative Paragraphs (OP) 8 and 18.

OP8 seeks to continue the work initiated in last year’s resolution which created capacity within the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information to support judicial and other proceedings.

This capacity was set up in response to the lack of progress made by Sri Lanka’s domestic legal mechanisms towards accountability for past alleged gross violations of human rights. Unfortunately, this capacity has only been fully operational since May of this year and so requires more time to complete its mandate. We are therefore seeking to extend it for a further period as recommended by the former High Commissioner.

OP18 requests further reporting by OHCHR and proposes to move from an 18-month time frame to 2 years. This is in recognition of the severe challenges which Sri Lanka is currently facing – allowing Sri Lanka sufficient time and space to make progress on human rights in what we all recognise is a very difficult context.

Mr President – the UK is a close partner to and long-standing friend of Sri Lanka, our times run deep. We bring this resolution in order to help Sri Lanka address ongoing challenges and in order to encourage progress on reconciliation, justice and human rights.

I commend this draft resolution to my fellow members of this Council.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

Deputy Ambassador Brown stresses at Warsaw Human Dimension Conference that Russia’s actions have had terrible consequences for the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam Ambassador.

Over seven months since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s actions have had terrible consequences for the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Over 14,000 civilian casualties have been reported to date. Within Ukraine, 17.7 million are in humanitarian need. Approximately 7 million are displaced and 7.4 million have registered as refugees across Europe. Schools, hospitals and other medical facilities in Ukraine have been attacked. The sheer level of destruction means that humanitarian need will increase as winter approaches.

The second Moscow Mechanism report was an important step in attempting to establish the scale of the suffering resulting from Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine so far. It noted concern over “clear patterns of serious violations of international humanitarian law attributable mostly to the Russian armed forces”, including the magnitude and frequency of the indiscriminate attacks carried out against civilians and civilian objects. The report detailed horrifying accounts of civilians reporting torture, rape, unlawful detention, enforced disappearances and the targeting of critical civilian infrastructure.

Last week’s sham referenda conducted under considerable fear and harassment were neither free nor fair. The UK will never recognize the supposed results. And we will never recognize Russian attempts to illegally annex Ukrainian sovereign territory.

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. As we have already heard this morning, 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. The sham trials – including of foreign nationals serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces – by an unrecognised court was a clear violation of international humanitarian law (IHL). We will hold Russia accountable for these violations.

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 though economic, diplomatic and humanitarian measures. And we will continue to call on Russia to withdraw from the territory of Ukraine, and put an end to the suffering. Ukraine deserves peace.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

Ambassador James Kariuki delivered the UK’s national statement at the General Debate of the UN’s Second Committee which opened in New York this week.

Madam Chair,

The United Kingdom congratulates you on your appointment. We look forward to working with you and the Second Committee bureau.

As we approach the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must all renew our commitment to achieving Agenda 2030.

Development is at the heart of the UK’s foreign policy. We remain a committed and substantial development partner, through our range of funding and expertise. The UK spends 0.5% of gross national income on ODA, and is committed to returning to 0.7% when out fiscal situation allows.

We are channelling most of our ODA towards low-income countries. We support the global goal of providing at least 0.2% of our GNI to Least Developed Countries.

The tight fiscal situation and debt distress faced by many developing countries is concerning. Scaled up and more effective financing and investment – which doesn’t increase debt – is desperately needed, from a range of sources.

Through “British Investment Partnerships”, we are working with governments and private sector to mobilise up to £8 billion annually of UK-backed financing. This will support economic growth, sustainable infrastructure, and a green and just energy transition.

During our G7 Presidency, we launched the “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment”, which also aims to mobilise $600 billion over the next 5 years.

Countries need better access to international trade, which is why we launched the “Developing Countries Trading Scheme” to enable duty-free, quota-free trade.

The international financing system isn’t working for many countries. The UK has signed up to the G20 ambition of channelling $100 billion Special Drawing Rights to climate-vulnerable countries. We have committed to channel $4 billion of SDRs via the IMF’s new Resilience & Sustainability Trust.

Madam Chair,

The UK is proud of our COP26 Presidency and the historic Glasgow Climate Pact.

As we approach COP27 in Sharm el-Sheik and the CBD COP15 in Montreal, we will work with Egypt, China, Canada and others to maintain focus on the goals of the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact. These agreements must be the starting point for all climate discussions, including in Second Committee. We will resist any attempt to row back from these agreements.

The UK was the first major economy to commit to bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. We are committed to ‘No New Coal’.

We have promised to double our International Climate Finance to at least £11.6 billion to 2026. We will ensure a balance between mitigation and adaptation finance.

At UNGA High-Level Week, we launched a 10 Point Plan for Financing Biodiversity, with Ecuador, Gabon and the Maldives. This reinforces the need for all domestic financing and ODA to be nature-positive and eliminate harmful subsidies.

We are also hopeful about a new Global Biodiversity Framework with targets to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.

The UK has been a strong supporter of multilateralism as the core of how to support global health in our interconnected world.

Madam Chair

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the UK has committed $2.37 billion to help low and middle-income countries to manage impacts on the most vulnerable.

Through COVAX, the UK supported distribution of 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccines to 87 developing countries. The UK is prioritising equitable access to vaccinations, therapeutics and diagnostics to support the ‘One Health Approach’.

We look forward to discussing how to better prepare for future pandemics, at the upcoming UN High-Level meetings on PPPR and Antimicrobial Resistance.

We are acutely aware of how interlinked economic, social and environmental challenges affect countries in special situations such as SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs.

Last year, the UK co-authored the ‘SIDS Call to Action’ with Belize, Fiji and AOSIS, pressing for vulnerability to guide financial allocations, as set out in Glasgow.

We welcome publication of the interim report on development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, and look forward to the final report. We encourage Second Committee’s support and consideration of SIDS and LDCs across discussions.

Gender equality must be at the heart of our efforts, and a cross-cutting focus in Second Committee.

We commend the Secretary General for the Transforming Education Summit, and action to advance gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment in and through education.

With 8 years left until 2030, we still have time left to muster our hope, commitment and courage, and work together to realize the SDGs. We must leave no one behind.

Thank you.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council briefing on North Korea

Thank you President and I also thank ASG Khiari for his informative briefing.

President, as we’ve heard, at around half-past seven on Tuesday morning, as commuters in Northern Japan were making their way to work, evacuation alerts sent people rushing to shelters. Public transport came to a halt as a ballistic missile, launched without warning by North Korea, flew overhead.

The threat to international peace and security presented by North Korea’s reckless and illegal ballistic missile tests could not be clearer. North Korea’s latest launch of an Intermediate-range ballistic missile violates multiple UNSCRs. We stand in solidarity with the people of Japan, and of states in the region threatened by this unacceptable behaviour.

This latest test is a serious escalation, but the broader trend is just as concerning. This year alone North Korea has launched 39 ballistic missiles; seven of which were launched in the last ten days.

We urge Council members to meet these violations with a firm and united response. North Korea has been emboldened by the Council’s inaction, and the use of the veto by two Council members. Diplomacy is the only route to sustained peace on the peninsula, but it is right that this Council continues to take appropriate, targeted measures to slow the pace of proliferation.

We again call on all member states to implement in full existing Security Council resolutions on North Korea. They are an essential part of efforts to counter the continued development of North Korea’s prohibited programmes.

Let me be clear too that Council sanctions are not targeted at the North Korean people. We fully support the delivery of humanitarian support to the most vulnerable and therefore call on North Korea to allow an independent assessment of the humanitarian situation, and to allow aid to flow freely into the country.

Joint statement by Security Council members condemning the DPRK’s long-range ballistic missile launch
Joint statement to the press delivered by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative at the United States Mission to the United Nations on behalf of Albania, Brazil, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom
The United States, Albania, Brazil, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, strongly condemn the DPRK’s long-range ballistic missile launch which overflew Japan on October 4 and its seven other ballistic missile launches conducted since September 25. The DPRK has now launched over 35 ballistic missiles this year alone.

These launches violate multiple Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to not only the region, but to the entire international community.

The United States, and those who have joined me at the podium today remain committed to diplomacy and continue to call on the DPRK to return to dialogue. But we will not stay silent as the DPRK works to undermine the global nonproliferation regime and threaten the international community.

The DPRK made its intentions clear in April and September when its leader signaled an effort to accelerate the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and even alluded to pre-emptive use of nuclear forces. We are witnessing the DPRK’s pursuit of this objective.

We call on all UN Member States, especially Council members, to join us in condemning this reckless behavior and in urging the DPRK to abandon in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner its unlawful weapons programs and engage in diplomacy toward denuclearization. We also recall the Council’s decision in resolution 2397 referring to further significant measures.

We call on Member States to fully implement the relevant Security Council resolutions. Let us reaffirm that full implementation of the 1718 Committee mandate is necessary to effectively slow down and restrict the DPRK’s weapons advancements.

Following the DPRK’s provocations and escalatory behavior in 2017, the Council came together and unanimously took action to hold the DPRK accountable for its unlawful actions.

Now again the DPRK is testing the Council’s resolve and we must act accordingly.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

Ian Stubbs (UK delegation to the OSCE) condemns Russian attempts to hide the truth of Putin’s appalling and failing illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you Mr Chair. On 30th September, Putin announced the attempted illegal annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The United Kingdom unreservedly condemns this outrageous and illegitimate act. It represents yet another attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will never accept the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as anything other than sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Mr Chair, the announced attempted illegal annexation is just another act of desperation by a Russian leadership under pressure to fabricate a success to sell to their people as a price worth paying for the thousands of Russian service personnel who have been sent to their deaths to fight Putin’s illegal war of choice.

On 1 October, Russian forces in the Donetsk Oblast town of Lyman withdrew in the face of Ukrainian advances. Lyman is a significant loss for Russia. Militarily, it was Russia’s eastern logistics hub and also commanded a key road that crossed the Siversky Donets River behind which Russia was attempting to consolidate its defences. But the loss of Lyman is symbolically important for Russia too – situated within a region that Russia supposedly aimed to “liberate”; attempted to illegally annex; and that Putin promised would be Russian territory forever two days earlier. It is a clear demonstration of the stark mismatch between the Kremlin’s rhetoric and reality.

As Ukraine consolidates its advances further in the east and near Kherson in the south, it will become painfully apparent to the Russian people that Putin’s contrived fanfare of celebrations and concerts, which accompanied his announced attempts to illegally annex territory, were just part of another lie in his attempt to hide the disastrous truth of his appalling and failing illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Chair, as we have all seen, the Russian people are already realising that the announced “partial mobilisation” is also part of that sham – a desperate attempt to turn the tide of a failed invasion by sacrificing ordinary Russian citizens. On 29 September, just over a week after the mobilisation was announced, President Putin addressed his National Security Council and admitted that “a lot of questions are being raised during this mobilisation campaign, and we must promptly correct our mistakes and not repeat them.” This rather quick public acknowledgement of problems highlights the dysfunction of the mobilisation over its first week. Including that local officials have almost certainly drafted many Russian citizens who are outside the announced scope of the mobilisation. Numerous images and video of chaotic mobilisation centres support Putin’s own assessment that his mobilisation is not going well.

Mr Chair, the mobilisation of these Russian citizens will not turn the tide of this war in Putin’s favour. The thousands of ordinary citizens sent to war – poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly led – will not succeed where Russia’s professional army – with tanks, paratroopers and artillery – has already failed. And mobilisation is an admission that this is a war, you do not mobilise your population to fight a limited military operation, special or otherwise. You mobilise a population to fight a war – in this case Putin’s failing illegal war of choice.

Mr Chair, on 30 September, Russian forces almost certainly struck a convoy south-east of the town of Zaporizhzhia where local authorities report that 25 civilians were killed. The munition involved was likely a Russian long-range air defence missile being used in a ground attack role. We have unfortunately seen the use of high-value air-defence and anti-ship missile systems rerolled to strike ground targets, including civilians and civilian infrastructure before, such as the attack on the Kremenchuk shopping centre in June.

The strike on the convoy last week was an appalling, callous and cowardly attack at a location routinely used by civilians to assemble before travelling to areas of Ukraine under temporary Russian control to deliver aid and pick up relatives. That this strike happened on the same day President Putin signed the illegal annexation agreement for Zaporizhzhia and claimed that Russia would now protect those civilians is particularly deplorable.

The deliberate targeting of civilians is not only abhorrent, but also a blatant violation of international law. The atrocities we see being committed day after day will not be forgotten and those giving or following illegal orders will be held to account.

Mr Chair, Russia’s continued aggressive nuclear rhetoric and signalling is also irresponsible. It is designed to distract and deter us from supporting Ukraine. It achieves neither. We continue to call on Russia to de-escalate, starting by ceasing its assault on Ukraine and withdrawing its forces. We urge Russia to tone down its rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons. Russia should seek to reduce tensions and the risk of miscalculation, not increase them.

Mr Chair, the Russian Government’s attempt to redraw the map of Europe in blood, and conquer an independent and democratic State by force of arms is an attack on the security and freedom of Europe. The United Kingdom, along with many others, repeatedly warned that this would be a massive strategic mistake and would come at a severe cost.

Mr Chair, as exemplified by the visit of our Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, to Kyiv last week; our support to Ukraine will remain steadfast until the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine is fully restored. The UK is one of the leading donors of military aid to Ukraine, committing £2.3 billion in 2022 and, as the Prime Minister announced at UNGA 77, this amount will be matched or exceeded in 2023. Just weeks ago we committed to donating more than 120 logistics vehicles in the latest tranche of gifted military equipment.

The UK has also trained more than 27,000 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2015, including over 5,500 of new recruits in the UK this year, with help from allies and partners. The training teaches troops key skills such as weapons handling, first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics, vehicle-mounted operations and trench and urban warfare, which will give them a crucial edge on the battlefield over Russia’s professional and mobilised soldiers.

The UK stands in solidarity with Ukraine, including through the ongoing provision of military assistance, as Ukrainians defend their homeland and fight for the simple right to a free, peaceful and prosperous future. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

The UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement on the ongoing situation on gender rights in Somalia.

Thank you Mr Vice President,

The United Kingdom thanks the Independent Expert and strongly supports the extension of her mandate. We welcome the peaceful conclusion of Somalia’s elections and the historic appointment of the first female Deputy Speaker. Regrettably, the 30 per cent quota for female representation was not met and delayed elections left little room for progress on human rights.

More broadly, we remain deeply concerned by persistent insecurity in Somalia and the cost in civilian lives; the marginalisation of displaced people, minorities and women; continuing sexual and gender-based violence; and restrictions on freedom of expression. A lack of accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses persists. The impending famine in the Baidoa and Burhakaba districts and the resulting increase in internally displaced persons compounds our concern.

We urge the Somali Government to strengthen the rule of law, tackle impunity, and enhance basic freedoms in Somalia by establishing a National Human Rights Commission and accelerating progress on pending legislation, particularly the Sexual Offences Bill, the Female Genital Mutilation Bill, and the Child Rights Bill. These are crucial to deliver the commitments made in the National Development Plan for 2020-2024. The UK stands ready to work with Somalia on this, and calls for the international community to do the same.

Ms Dyfan,

We welcome the continued engagement and cooperation of Somalia with this mandate.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

The UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, delivered this statement at the 7th WTO Trade Policy Review of Mexico on 5 October 2022.

Chair, let me speak, for the first time at a TPR, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and to welcome the Mexican delegation under the leadership of the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, Luz María De La Mora. Thanks to the Mexican Federal Government and the WTO for their reports. Let me also thank the Chair and our distinguished Discussant, Clare Kelly for kindly facilitating this Trade Policy Review and providing us such an insightful basis for our discussions.

In our written questions for this Review, we were keen to gain a deeper understanding of Mexico’s regulatory framework in areas including Intellectual Property, domestic regulating bodies and agencies, the government procurement regime, Trade in Services, and SPS measures. This broad range of questions covering a panoply of themes is an indication of the range of opportunities available to Mexican and UK business from our accelerating bilateral trade.

Chair, this review includes a period of acute economic instability globally. WE are therefore pleased to welcome the positive steps which the Mexican Federal Government took to mitigate these shocks, notably through the expansion of digitisation services for administrative procedures for imports and agri-food exports.

It is encouraging that in periods of economic stress, actions such as these demonstrate that opportunities can be found, notably digital opportunities, which can accelerate best practice and improve the free trading environment. This also builds on previous efforts to reform customs procedures, as identified during Mexico’s last TPR, back in 2017.

In that TPR, the then Chair outlined in her concluding remarks Member’s concerns that Mexico’s trade was highly dependent on a single export market, noting that there was a need to diversify. During this review period, Mexico has indeed enacted some of the suggestions made to address this, including strengthening economic ties with different trading partners.

To this same end, the UK was pleased to sign a Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) with Mexico which came into force on 1 June last year. We look forward to delivering our Factual Presentation to the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements next month

To realise the full potential of our trading relationship, Mexico and the UK launched negotiations in London on 20 May this year to secure a more modern and comprehensive bilateral FTA. As Mexico highlighted in its Report to this review, we have agreed on the modernisation of rules relating to investment and intellectual property, and the inclusion of innovative provisions relating to SMEs, gender and innovation, among others. We look forward to bringing this agreement to fruition as soon as we can and to our businesses making full use of the opportunities that the FTA should offer to grow their business and generate prosperity for British and Mexican citizens.

As others have noted, Mexico has also signed agreements with the United States, Canada, and the EU, and has signed the entry-into-force of the CPTPP. As the Secretariat recognises in its Report, these and other preferential trade agreements demonstrate the importance that regionalism plays in Mexico’s trade relations.

Back In 2017, Members also encouraged Mexico to join plurilateral agreements, notably the GPA. We would welcome Mexico’s indication of progress from Mexico with regards to this key plurilateral agreement.

Let me welcome Mexico’s support for the Inclusive Trade Action Group ITAG and Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA), as well as its engagement in the WTO own Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. All these important initiatives help to increase women’s economic empowerment through enhanced trade opportunities, an objective the UK fully shares with Mexico.

Through our Embassy in Mexico City, the UK has been pleased to work with Mexico on developing a methodology to measure the wage gap in Mexico and help to identify a remedy. This is an on-going and important work, and we encourage Mexico to continue to advance the necessary actions in order to reap the full reward of Mexico’s ambitions in this area.

Regarding transparency, like others the UK notes that less than 200 measures have been recorded by Mexico in the WTO’s Trade Monitoring Database, a low notification level in both relative and absolute terms. The median G20 Member notifies around 400 measures. Notifications and transparency obligations are we all recognise a cornerstone of the ongoing success of the WTO, and we therefore encourage Mexico to continue their efforts to ensure maximum levels of transparency regarding notifications.

Furthermore, recent data suggests that of 257 policy intervention measures in force, 69% (or 177of them) are trade restrictive rather than trade-facilitating. As such, the UK encourages Mexico to pursue balanced trade policies.

As the Secretariat’s Report identifies, Mexico is working to open-up untapped potential within its economy. Export diversification and the spreading of regional exporting opportunities have significant potential to achieve this, expanding the benefits of free trade at a global level and contributing to an improved, strengthened international trading system, it s in all our interest. The UK looks forward to working with our Mexican partners to help make the most of these opportunities.

Finally Madame Chair we like to thank the delegation Mexico for their fruitful engagement in this important transparency exercise and we wish them a successful 7th Trade Policy Review, and thank the Distinguished PR and excellent team to reap all possibilities of WTO

Thank you, Chair.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2022.

Ms Ailsa Terry has been appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia in succession to Mr Charles Hay MVO who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Terry will take up her appointment during July 2023.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ailsa Terry

Spouse: Adam Terry

Children: Two

Year	Role
2022 to Present	FCDO, Director, Sanctions
2021 to 2022	FCDO, Director, G7 Presidency
2018 to 2021	Cabinet Office, Director/Deputy Director, National Security Secretariat
2014 to 2018	Brussels, United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union, Counsellor to the Permanent Representative
2012 to 2014	FCO, China Department, Team Leader, Asia Pacific Directorate
2011 to 2012	FCO, Head of Operations, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
2011	Kabul, European Union Delegation, Political Adviser to the EU Special Representative to Afghanistan
2009 to 2011	Islamabad, Second Secretary (Political)
2008 to 2009	FCO, Head of Middle East and Africa Casework Team, Consular Directorate
2007 to 2008	FCO, Desk Officer, Economic and Financial Affairs, Europe Directorate
2006 to 2007	Department for Communities, Private Secretary to the Secretary of State