Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 May 2025.

The UK has issued a statement in response to recent attacks against the Druze community in Syria.

A UK Government spokesperson said:

The UK is appalled by recent attacks against the Druze community in Syria. We urge the authorities to take steps to restore calm, shield civilians from violence and hold those responsible to account.

We strongly call on all parties to reject violence, to ensure the protection of civilians and to refrain from actions that could risk aggravating tensions between communities in Syria.  We call on Israel to refrain from actions that could risk destabilising Syria – respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is paramount.

There can be no lasting peace or better future for Syrians unless all of Syria’s communities are protected and fully included in Syria’s transition.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 May 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Armenia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

The UK welcomes the positive steps taken by Armenia since its 2020 review, particularly strengthening of the domestic violence law in 2024, which offers a robust framework for addressing domestic violence.

We also welcome Armenia abolishing the death penalty in all circumstances and their positive trajectory on media freedom.

However, we remain concerned about reported incidences of continued discrimination, hate speech and attacks against LGBT+ individuals.

We recommend that Armenia:

Implements an anti-discrimination law protecting sexual orientation and gender identity in all sectors to combat LGBT+ hate crimes and hate speech.

Ratifies the Istanbul Convention to protect women from violence and domestic abuse.

Implements a plan for community-based services to protect and include persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 May 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Kenya’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you.

We thank the Kenyan delegation and congratulate Kenya on its election to the Human Rights Council.

We welcome important reforms made since Kenya’s last review, including the commuting of all death sentences imposed before November 2022.

We commend the launch of the Strategic Framework for Police Reforms and the establishment of specialised courts for sexual and gender-based violence cases.

Following widespread protests in 2024, we continue to encourage the authorities to protect civic space and media freedom, and the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution.

We recommend that Kenya:

1. Fully implements the National Coroners Service Act 2017.
2. Strengthens anti-corruption and counter-illicit finance laws and practices, including by protecting whistle blowers, and passing and implementing the Conflict-of-Interest bill.
3. Implement the two-thirds gender principle in all elective or appointive bodies, with particular focus on the 2027 elections.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 May 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Lesotho’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Lesotho’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

We thank Lesotho for explaining their efforts to protect human rights.

We particularly welcome the implementation of existing legislation to address gender-based violence. We urge the government to tackle structural drivers of gender-based violence and extend support services for survivors, particularly in rural areas.

We call on the government to protect the rights of those living and working in the vicinity of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Providing adequate compensation, employment benefits and educational opportunities, and safeguarding women from sexual exploitation are vital.

Lastly, we encourage Lesotho to address inequities in early years education by supporting children from the ebaPhuti and Xhosa peoples to access educational resources in their indigenous languages.

We recommend that Lesotho:

1. Provides communities affected by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project with adequate compensation, and access to related electricity, employment and educational opportunities.
2. Extends support services for women and girls in both rural and urban areas across Lesotho, including for survivors of sexual violence.
3. Implements a strategy to support children from the ebaPhuti and Xhosa peoples to access educational resources in their indigenous languages.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 April 2025.

A partnership between Kenya, the UK and private sector to deliver growth and jobs by reducing reliance on foreign imports, supporting women and the environment.

The UK, Kenya, and the County Government of Lamu have joined forces to lay the foundation stone at a new cotton processing facility in Lamu County.

This four-way partnership between the UK, national government, local government and the private sector is a great example of the how the UK and Kenya are working together to deliver homegrown economic growth and jobs – a standout example of the tangible results that collaboration can achieve.

Construction will begin immediately and is hoped to be completed by November 2025. The project is expected to support up to 5000 jobs in the next three years.

The Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, said:

The ginnery, by Thika Cloth Mills, will boost cotton uptake and thus earn farmers more income, create jobs, and provide raw material for the textile industry.

With the infrastructure supporting export including a special economic zone, Lamu Port and LAPPSET, Lamu will be the hub for investors in the region.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Ed Barnett, said:

The UK is a long-term partner for long-term economic growth in Kenya. This project is a testament to the power of partnerships – the UK, national government, and county governments have joined forces with the private sector to deliver 5,000 jobs and future economic growth.

This partnership will reduce reliance on imports, put money in the pockets of farmers. It will strengthen, stabilise and support a sustainable homegrown cotton industry in Kenya. Long live Kenya kanga!

This partnership directly supports the Government of Kenya’s textiles and garments national development priority, by reducing reliance on foreign imports – which currently make up around 90% of cotton in the country. Kenya currently produces 3,000 bales of cotton per year, whilst the total demand ranges between 140,000 – 260,000. This partnership will develop a homegrown cotton industry and allow Kenyan businesses to capitalise on economic opportunities within their own country.

The processing plant will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Lamu County. It is hoped the facility will triple cotton production in Lamu from 2,000 bales per year to 6,000 over the next three years. This will also support local cotton farmers as the facility will be built close to farms, reducing transportation costs as well as providing them with a larger market for their produce. The proposed plant will not only source cotton from Lamu County but from Kilifi, Tana River, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties.

The reduced need for transportation is expected to decrease the carbon footprint of the textile production process by 262 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, supporting Kenya’s climate ambitions.

This project will also have a positive social impact and place a significant emphasis on providing substantial economic opportunities to women and promoting gender equality, as the employees at the processing plant are expected to be at least 50% women.

The programme falls under the UK’s Sustainable Urban Economic Development programme (SUED), which aims to add value to Kenyan agricultural produce before export.

The UK has provided seed-funding to de-risk the investment for all partners involved. The Government of Kenya has provided additional funding, with the remaining funds being provided by Thika Cotton Mills. Lamu County sealed the deal by providing land for the ginnery.

SUED has been operational in Lamu for four years, and this is the programme’s fourth value-chain project in the county. It has secured investors for the cotton ginnery as well as fish processing, coconut processing, and cashew nut processing facilities. Across Kenya, our £8 million seed fund investments through SUED have helped unlock £48 million in private capital and supported the creation of more than 10,000 jobs.

The UK Government partners with Kenya across multiple sectors in Lamu County. The UK supports: trade and investment though the development of infrastructure and customs processes at Lamu Port; regional security through programmes to counter violent extremism; and environmental programmes to reduce plastic pollution and increase biodiversity.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 April 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at Spain’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Mr President,

Welcome to the Secretary of State.

The United Kingdom welcomes Spain’s strong commitment to of human rights.

We commend the the passing of the new Cross-Party Pact against gender-based violence. We urge Spain to continue to develop and implement a comprehensive national action plan to address human trafficking.

We also recognise  efforts to address its housing crisis with the Law on Housing Rights. However, we are concerned about the barriers hindering its effective implementation

We recommend that Spain:

1. Develops a strategic housing plan with sufficient funding for social housing to meet the objectives of Spanish recent legislation.
2. Enhances support services for migrant children by integrating their specific needs into the national framework to protect and promote their rights.
3. Develops and implements a National Action Plan that adequately addresses all forms of human trafficking, including that of women and girls.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2025.

Statement by UK Spokesperson to the UN Letisha Lunin at the UN Committee on Information General Debate.

Thank you Chair, let me begin by congratulating you and the members of the Bureau on your election.

I would also like to thank the Secretariat and Under-Secretary-General Fleming and the Department of Global Communications for its work, including on the UN’s Global Principles for Information Integrity, which we are proud to support.

The UN’s footage and testimony from war zones shines a light on humanitarian crises. Its news and campaign services raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, and equip us with accurate information on the climate and nature crisis.

As we mark the UN’s 80th anniversary, the Department’s work has never been more important.

It is vital audiences understand the nature and magnitude of the current global challenges we face, and how the UN has made a difference, maintaining international peace and security, in accordance with the UN charter.

Chair, I will make three points:

First, the UK is extremely concerned at the rapidly growing threats to information integrity, fueled by artificial intelligence.

Mis and disinformation operations are being used to exacerbate tensions and conflicts, and compromise the integrity of elections, undermining trust in democratic institutions.

The recent World Economic Forum Global Risks Report for 2025 lists mis and disinformation as the most severe global risks over the next two years.

Mis and disinformation is being weaponised by state and non-state actors to deceive populations at scale.

Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been using disinformation to undermine global support for Ukraine. The UK has been proactive in identifying and acting against these malign information operations. This includes exposing and sanctioning the Russian state-funded Social Design Agency, whose sole purpose is to weaken international support for Ukraine by spreading false social media content.

Recently, the UK shared information that Proxies, directed by the Russian state, have plans to interfere with elections in the Central African Republic, including through suppressing political voices and conducting disinformation campaigns to interfere in political debate.

Russia has also been exploiting the Security Council as a platform for disinformation. Russia has invited dozens of individuals as briefers to spread conspiracy theories about what has happened in Ukraine.

Member States all have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the UN as a trusted source of information.

The UK condemns disinformation about UN Peacekeeping operations. The spread of false allegations not only erodes trust between the Blue Helmets and the communities they serve, it is also damaging their ability to implement their mandate, and it is putting peacekeepers’ lives at risk.

We are proud to support the UN’s Mis and Disinformation in Peacekeeping Settings Project.

Second, independent journalism reported freely, without fear, is essential in a democratic society.

But in many parts of the world, the freedom of the media is under threat.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that more journalists were killed in 2024 than in any other year since it began collecting data over three decades ago.

The conflict in Gaza has become the deadliest ever recorded for media and journalist workers.

In Sudan, reporters are also taking significant risks to document the horrors of war.

Journalists should be able to carry out their work safely and free from censorship and harassment.

The UK is proud to have co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition, with 51 countries as members, advocating for the safety of journalists.

And we also thank the Department of Global Communications for its work supporting journalists.

This brings me to my third point, Chair. The UK is committed to doing all we can to protect information integrity with a human rights-based approach.

That is why we are proud to support the Global Digital Compact.

The UK’s Online Safety Act ensures platforms tackle harmful content by requiring companies to take steps to remove illegal content, including illegal mis and disinformation.

Finally, the UK supports multilingualism.

And while a third of the world’s population remains offline, the UK supports collective efforts to close the digital divide and ensure those who come online have access to accurate and reliable information.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2025.

Statement by Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa and the UN, at the UN General Assembly debate on the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism in Syria.

Thank you Assistant Secretary-General Robert Petit for the briefing and the debate today.

Let me also welcome Foreign Minister Al Shaibani to the Assembly. Your presence here today is a powerful signal of the opportunities that lie ahead for Syria to carve out a more secure, peaceful and prosperous future.

I will make three points today.

First, we welcome progress in Syria’s political transition since the fall of the Assad regime.

This includes the formation of a new Syrian Government and their commitment to hold free and fair elections in Syria.

We also welcome the important steps taken since December towards social cohesion amongst the Syrian people.

This includes the first-ever consensus on the Human Rights Council resolution supported by the Syrian Government, and commitments by the Syrian Government to establish national committees to address transitional justice, missing persons and chemical weapons.

However, as the horrific events in the coastal areas in March remind us, significant challenges remain to address the legacy of 14 years of war and brutality, and to begin the process to provide closure to all those affected.

Second, we commend the IIIM for the valuable progress it has made since December on the international pursuit for accountability.

The volume of documentation and witness interviews that the IIIM team have collated is a testament to your tireless dedication to provide a credible evidence base for future prosecutions.

The appointment of an IIIM Liaison Officer in Damascus is also a promising example of UN-Syria cooperation, and we urge all parties to work collaboratively to ensure that survivors receive the justice that they demand, and that they deserve.

Third, the UK had a leading role in supporting international and civil society accountability efforts during the Assad regime.

And we remain committed to pursuing accountability for victims, survivors and families in Syria, and for that reason, we continue to see the IIIM as a crucial component for the future Syrian-led Transitional Justice processes.

We were proud to have co-sponsored the UNGA resolution which established this mechanism in 2016 and remain committed to ensuring that it has the political backing and operational remit it requires to succeed.

And this year, the United Kingdom has allocated a further $940,000 in funding to our partners in support of this effective evidence collection and preservation.

We thank IIIM for your contribution to the fight against impunity and for amplifying the voices of survivors throughout your work.

The UK will continue to support the Syrian Government and its people in their efforts on reconciliation and accountability to ensure a stable and prosperous future for the people of Syria.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Lao PDR’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Mr Vice President.

The United Kingdom welcomes the Lao PDR’s engagement with UN human rights mechanisms and its efforts to address human rights challenges. We are pleased with the inclusion of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in Laos’ action plans.

However, the UK remains concerned over restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and religion. We are also concerned by limited land rights for vulnerable communities and the worsening issue of human trafficking linked to serious organised crime.

We urge the Government to act on these issues and uphold its international obligations. In particular, we recommend that Laos;

1. Takes immediate steps to protect and promote civic space, ensuring that all individuals can freely exercise their rights without fear of reprisal.
2. Ensures that development projects respect the rights of affected communities, including noting the principle of free, prior and informed consent.
3. Implements its international obligations under the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children and to collaborate with regional and international partners to address this issue.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 29 April 2025.

Joint statement by the co-chairs of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, 29 April 2025 :

The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) today held a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in London. The Joint Committee co-chairs took note of the state of play of the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement since the last meeting on 16 May 2024, renewing the EU and UK’s shared commitment to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Agreement in all its parts.

The co-chairs reiterated that citizens’ rights are a key joint priority. In that spirit, the co-chairs warmly welcomed the legislative step taken by the UK Government relating to legal clarity for EU citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme and look forward to its practical application. They highlighted the importance of ensuring a smooth transition for citizens from temporary to permanent residence over the course of the next two years. The co-chairs agreed to further strengthen their ongoing cooperation on all citizens’ rights issues to ensure that all citizens who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can fully enjoy their rights now and in the future.

The co-chairs recalled the importance they attach to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while continuing to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and ensuring the protection of the EU Single Market, to which Northern Ireland has a unique access, and the integrity of the UK’s Internal Market.

They noted the considerable work undertaken to date in the implementation of the Windsor Framework, having delivered benefits across areas, including on agri-foods, trade, VAT and excise, and engagement with stakeholders. They recalled specifically that, since the last Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, the arrangements for human medicines had started applying effective from 1 January 2025. At the meeting today, they also completed important work on safeguards allowing new customs facilitations on parcels and freight to take effect on 1 May 2025.

They reiterated their unwavering commitment to stepping up the work for the full delivery of safeguards underpinning the facilitations, in particular in the agri-food area.

The co-chairs welcomed the Joint Committee newly adopted decisions on the implementation of the Windsor Framework. Finally, they adopted the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee Annual Report for the year 2024.

The co-chairs agreed to continue working in a spirit of mutual trust and remain in very close contact to achieve full delivery of the Withdrawal Agreement and to strengthen bilateral relations in view of the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025.