Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2025.

The visit by UK Special Representative for Climate, Rachel Kyte, will strengthen UK-Singapore partnership and drive regional climate action and investment.

The UK’s Special Representative for Climate, Rachel Kyte, is in Singapore on 6-7 May to strengthen UK-Singapore partnership on climate and clean investment and support greater climate ambition across Southeast Asia.

As part of the two-day visit, Ms Kyte will speak at Ecosperity Week and the GenZero Climate Summit, where she will share lessons from the UK’s decarbonisation journey, engage on opportunities to catalyse investment and technical assistance in green growth across Southeast Asia, and together with partners drive development of carbon markets.

The visit underscores the UK’s renewed commitment to international climate leadership. While here, Ms Kyte will hold meetings with Climate Ambassador Ravi Menon, as well as representatives from GenZero, Temasek, and Singapore’s Energy Market Authority to deepen collaboration on areas such as energy connectivity and carbon markets under the UK-Singapore Green Economy Framework (UKSGEF).

Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative for Climate, said:

Increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, Singapore has become one of the most important hubs for financing clean growth and climate action. From carbon markets to clean tech to building resilience Singapore, like London, is leading the way. Deepening collaboration and, together, encouraging others to join with us in our ambitions for greener growth benefits everyone in our two countries and in the wider region.

I hope that the UK-Singapore partnership can help drive demand for high integrity carbon markets that will support stronger financial flows into nature and support companies to move faster with their transition plans and managing their emissions.

British High Commissioner to Singapore, Nikesh (Nik) Mehta, said:

The UK and Singapore share not just a commitment to addressing climate change, but a recognition that environmental protection and economic ambition go hand in hand. Singapore is a vital strategic partner in our climate diplomacy across Southeast Asia.

Through our UK-Singapore Green Economy Framework, we are pioneering approaches that will spur the green transition across the region, unlocking significant investment and genuine climate benefits.

I’m confident that we will further cement our collaboration and identify exciting new areas for joint action on sustainable finance, carbon markets, and clean energy – areas where our combined expertise can make a real difference to the region’s green transition.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 May 2025.

UK Statement on Grenada, delivered at Grenada’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Madame Vice-President,

The UK welcomes efforts by the government of Grenada to end violence experienced by women and girls through programmes like the UN-funded Spotlight Initiative which between 2020 and 2023 bolstered legislation and policy frameworks, strengthened institutions, improved access to services, and built capacity of civil society. We urge the government to improve implementation, challenge social norms built around hegemonic masculinity, and strengthen programmes within state-owned facilities such as the Cedars Home for Women so that participants can thrive independently upon completion.

Although civil society organisations representing a cross-section of groups and human rights interests remain active in Grenada, some believe government engagement is inconsistent. We therefore urge the government to create more inclusive platforms for human rights dialogue and aid the creation of laws and policies that protect and promote the rights of all Grenadians regardless of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

We recommend that Grenada:

1. Repeals legal discriminatory provisions against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly those in the Sexual Offences Act and Criminal Code.
2. Ratifies and implements the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OP-CRPD)
3. Ratifies the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (OP-CEDAW)

Thank you.

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

The UK Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Tiffany Sadler, will be in Kigali next week, after visiting Kinshasa and Kampala.

The Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Tiffany Sadler, will meet representatives of government, business, and civil society during her visit to Rwanda; all of which provide an opportunity to discuss the current conflict and to reiterate the UK’s commitment to the region’s stability and long-term prosperity.

This is Ms. Tiffany Sadler’s second visit to Rwanda since taking up her position in September 2024.

The Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Tiffany Sadler, said:

I am delighted to be back in Rwanda during this critical and solemn time. The agreement signed between DRC and Rwanda in Washington, and the joint statement issued by DRC and M23 after their meetings in Qatar are very good news.

I will be discussing with the government, civil society, and business what the UK can do to sustain this positive momentum. Security and prosperity will lead to huge benefits for all. The region deserves to live in peace.

She will also experience the long-standing UK-Rwanda education partnership in practice, with a visit to a school in the northern province.

As her trip to Rwanda is during the solemn period of Kwibuka (remembrance), she will listen firsthand to the testimony of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Finally, she will visit the Ruzisi III hydropower site with Minister of Infrastructure, Dr Jimmy Gasore. This signals the UK’s strong and ongoing commitment to the project and the benefits it will bring to the people of Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi by increasing their energy supply.

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.