Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2025.

The UK Government has issued a response after a UK MP was refused entry to Hong Kong.

A Government spokesperson said:

During his visit to mainland China and Hong Kong Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander relayed our immediate and deep concern regarding MP Wera Hobhouse denial of entry into Hong Kong. Minister Alexander raised our concerns and demanded an explanation with senior Chinese and Hong Kong interlocutors including Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration, to understand why the Hong Kong authorities refused access to a British MP.

It is deeply concerning that a UK MP was refused permission to enter Hong Kong last week. Unjustified restrictions on the freedom of movement for UK citizens into Hong Kong only serves to further undermine Hong Kong’s international reputation and the important people-people connections between the UK and Hong Kong.

As the Foreign Secretary has made clear, and Minister Alexander relayed in person, it would be unacceptable for any MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2025.

Sir Thomas Drew KCMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic in succession to Dame Menna Rawlings DCMG CVO.  Sir Tom will take up his appointment in August 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Thomas Drew

Year	Role
2020 to 2024	FCDO, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
2020 to 2024	Trustee, British Council
2016 to 2019	Islamabad, British High Commissioner
2015	McKinsey and Company, Visiting Fellow (on secondment)
2012 to 2014	FCO, Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary
2010 to 2012	FCO, Director, National Security
2008 to 2010	Home Office, Director, Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
2006 to 2008	Islamabad, Political Counsellor
2004 to 2006	FCO, Europe Directorate, Head of Enlargement and South-East Europe Group
2002 to 2004	FCO, Europe Directorate, Head of Intergovernmental Conference Unit
1998 to 2002	Moscow, Second/First Secretary
1997 to 1998	Full time Russian language training
1995	Joined FCO
1993 to 1995	McKinsey and Company

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2025.

Explanation of position by Tara Soomro, UK Ambassador to ECOSOC, at CPD58.

Thank you, Chair. The UK aligns itself with the statement delivered by South Africa.

We extend our appreciation to you and the co-facilitators for your commitment and steadfast efforts to progress this important agenda.

Despite the broad cross-regional commitment and goodwill demonstrated by many in this room, we are disappointed to have not achieved a consensus outcome that upholds and advances the mutually reinforcing principles and ambitions of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Agenda 2030.

Neisha, the UK’s youth delegate to the CPD, came before this Commission and spoke with passion and conviction about the realities young people face, the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls, the devastating impacts of humanitarian crises on their futures and the urgent need for policies that reflect their lived experience.

The inability to achieve consensus on this year’s CPD resolution is not just a procedural failure, it is a failure to uphold the commitments we have made to people around the world.

The ICPD Programme of Action recognises that investing in human rights, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights is central to sustainable development.

That truth has not changed.

Yet today, we stand at a crossroads where previously agreed principles are being questioned and hard-won rights are being chipped away.

Let us be clear, universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and reproductive rights are not an abstract debate.

This is about whether women and girls can make decisions over their own bodies, whether young people have access to comprehensive information that can save their lives, and whether those most at risk, especially in humanitarian crises, receive the care, justice and services they need.

Over 700 women a day die from preventable causes.

This is the reality of the issues we debate here in this room.

We are letting these women and girls down.

A text that weakens these commitments does not reflect progress, it signals retreat.

Ignoring the links between health, climate change, and inequality does not make them disappear.

The world’s most vulnerable populations, women and girls, migrants, those facing humanitarian crises continue to bear the brunt of these overlapping global challenges.

The UK and our many cross-regional partners, remain steadfast in our commitment to gender equality, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

These are not just words on a page, they are promises we have made to future generations and to each other.

We recognise the progress made at all levels by grassroots organisations, civil society, national governments and also commend UNFPA’s leadership and remain committed to supporting this, making real change for women and girls around the world.

As we reflect on this outcome, we must ask ourselves, what kind of world are we building? One that advances dignity, equality, and progress? Or one that turns its back on those most in need?

The UK chooses to stand on the side of ambition, rights and the future we all committed to in 2015 when we pledged to leave no one behind.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2025.

UK and other OSCE participating States express concern over the deteriorating human rights situation and call on Georgia to open an inclusive dialogue with political parties, civil society and the OSCE institutions.

Thank you, Madam Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of  Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and my own country, Germany.

As OSCE participating States, we have committed to upholding and defending fundamental human rights, democracy, and the rule of law—not only within our own borders, but across our shared OSCE region. This commitment carries a responsibility: to hold each other accountable when we witness signs of democratic backsliding.

It is in this spirit that we express again our deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Georgia. Since our last discussion in February, we have regretfully witnessed Georgian authorities taking further steps away from their democratic and human rights commitments.

Madam Chair,

Our main concerns are threefold: the legislative restriction of civic space, the targeting of independent media, and the continued lack of accountability for excessive use of force by police, the use of indiscriminate violence by unidentified groups against peaceful protesters as well as unnecessarily long pre-trial detention periods and the reported ill-treatment of those in pre-trial detention.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires all individuals and organisations receiving foreign funding to register as so-called “Foreign Agents,” with financial sanctions and criminal penalties imposed on those who refuse. We share ODIHR’s concern that “this law, along with other recent legislative initiatives, could further curtail the activities of civil society organizations and human rights defenders by removing the safeguards needed for them to carry out their work”. This law lacks the legal safeguards that prevent civil society, media and private individuals from being branded as instruments of foreign influence based solely on funding sources, which strongly suggests that this law is not about transparency, but about suppressing dissent and tightening the grip on civil society. This is of particular concern in view of the upcoming local elections.

We are also closely monitoring recent amendments to Georgia’s electoral legislation. It is essential that any changes to the electoral framework enhance transparency and public trust, and that reforms are developed through inclusive dialogue and in line with OSCE commitments. Relatedly, we are concerned about legislative amendments undermining freedom of peaceful assembly, including the amendments to the Criminal and Administrative Offences Codes and the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations. The amendments undermine the principle of equal suffrage and restrict freedom of assembly, as stated in relevant ODIHR’s and Venice Commission latest opinions. We urge the Georgian authorities to implement their recommendations.

Madam Chair,

We are alarmed by the escalating threats and intimidation faced by journalists in Georgia. The Public Defender’s 2024 Human Rights Report highlights a significant decline in media freedom, exacerbated by restrictive laws—such as the recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting—and growing hostility toward journalists.

Notably, there have been incidents where journalists were being targeted by police while covering protests, including physical assaults and equipment seizures. Furthermore, reports of targeting journalists in exile and negative rhetoric from high-ranking officials and politicians have further eroded media freedom and increased risks for journalists.

We call for the immediate cessation of these practices and the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained journalists, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, who remains in detention on charges of up to 7 years in prison.

Finally, we remain deeply troubled by the persistent lack of accountability for police violence. We have seen no evidence of credible efforts by the Georgian authorities to investigate reports of disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters, arbitrary detentions, excessive over-reliance on long pre-trial detention periods, and mistreatment of detainees.

We call on the Georgian authorities to take immediate action to protect the rights of those exercising their fundamental freedoms and to conduct a thorough investigation of the use of police force during peaceful protests since 28 November 2024 in order to hold those responsible for human rights violations to account. Failure to do so further undermines public trust in Georgia’s institutions.

Madam Chair,

Despite repeated statements by Georgia reaffirming their commitment to dialogue and the OSCE principles and commitments, we have yet to see any concrete and genuine steps toward meaningful engagement. Instead, recent actions by the Georgian authorities have moved Georgia further away from democracy. We call on the Georgian authorities to open an inclusive dialogue with all political parties and civil society organisations in order to find peaceful and democratic solutions to the ongoing crisis.

We welcome recent statements by ODIHR and RFoM and strongly urge Georgia to continue to constructively engage with OSCE institutions and make use of their expertise. As fellow OSCE participating States, we will explore all available tools and mechanisms within the OSCE context going forward. In this spirit, we call on Georgian authorities to implement recommendations by ODIHR with regard to the upcoming elections.

Our unwavering commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unchanged. We stand steadfast in our support for the Georgian people and their pursuit of a democratic, stable and European future, and we remain ready to work with Georgia to ensure it upholds its international obligations and ensures that human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected.​

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2025.

Ambassador Neil Holland recalls the vital contribution of media freedom to security in the OSCE region, and calls on Russia, Belarus and others to live up to their OSCE commitments.

Thank you Mr Chair. And welcome back to the Permanent Council in your new capacity, dear Jan.

In this fiftieth anniversary year, I want to start with the Helsinki Final Act. In 1975 our predecessors accepted citizens’ right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas.  Free, independent and pluralistic media should be at the heart of our societies and our shared security. Sadly we are still far from realising our predecessors’ ambition when it comes to media freedom and other fundamental freedoms in our region.

We believe early warning sits at the core of your mandate. We welcome your public statements on recent cases of concern and, in particular, take this opportunity to express our concern about the case of Mzia Amaglobeli in Georgia and the so called “foreign agents” law in Republika Srpska.

Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many journalists and media workers have been killed. And over 100 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been detained or taken hostage by Russian forces. Furthermore, state disinformation, information manipulation and censorship in Russia and Belarus have reached unprecedented levels. Systemic repression has led to the closure of almost all independent media organizations and a media space largely subject to the State apparatus.

We call on both Russia and Belarus to release all political prisoners (including media actors) immediately and unconditionally, including those held by Russia in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

In order to realise the ambition of 1975, every participating State has work to do.  I am pleased that the Security Committee’s May 2025 meeting will focus on security implications of information manipulation and interference.

And domestically, the UK looks forward to working with you on the safety of journalists, combatting foreign information manipulation and interference and global media freedom challenges.

We launched our National Committee for the Safety of Journalists in 2020 and the UK’s National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists was first launched in 2021. The Action Plan was refreshed in 2023 following delivery of many of its original commitments. Achievements under the 2023 Action Plan include updated Online Harassment Guidance for Journalists; the launch of a journalist safety tracker by the National Union of Journalists; and a Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Taskforce and workplan.

The SLAPPs Taskforce has initiated new guidance on SLAPPs for journalists. The Solicitors Regulation Authority who are members of the Taskforce, launched a thematic review on SLAPPs in April 2024 and published an updated warning notice on SLAPPs in 2024, to help solicitors and law firms understand their obligations and how to comply.

In 2025 the UK’s National Committee for Safety of Journalists will focus on three priority areas: enhancing the criminal justice response to crimes against journalists; supporting journalists and their employers to tackle online and offline harassment; and – with a non-legislative focus – tackling the risks posed by SLAPPs and other abusive legal threats against journalists.

The National Committee – co-chaired by the Minister for Sports, Media, Civil Society and Youth and the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls –  will also develop the next iteration of the UK National Action Plan later this year.

The UK looks forward to continuing to discuss developments of concern across the wider OSCE region with you as well as our domestic policy framework.   And the UK remains a strong supporter of your office, your mandate and your team.  Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2025.

UK and others call for action to uphold safety of journalists and media freedom against a deteriorating background within some OSCE countries.

Thank you Mr. Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States that are members of the informal Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists namely Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and my own country, Lithuania.

First of all we welcome the Representative on Freedom of the Media Mr. Jan Braathu – dear Jan-  to the Permanent Council and thank him for his first report since taking on this role.

We reaffirm our strong support for the autonomous mandate of the Representative on Freedom of the Media, which plays a vital role in monitoring media developments in participating States, providing early warning on violations, and promoting compliance with OSCE commitments.

Mr. Chair,

We believe there is no genuine security without media freedom, and no media freedom without journalists being able to carry out their work safely. Unfortunately, despite the commitments of participating States, the environment for journalists across the OSCE region is extremely concerning, as they face physical and online violence, legal harassment, including strategic lawsuits against public participation, arbitrary detention, forced disappearance and even death for simply doing their job.

Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, with the complicity of Belarus, has directly impacted media freedom and the safety of journalists. As Russia‘s atrocities in Ukraine continue, Reporters Without Borders has recorded that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, nearly 150 journalists have become victims of Russian abuses performing their duties. 13 journalists have been killed by Russian forces. 47 journalists have been injured while reporting as a result of attacks by Russian forces. 19 Ukrainian journalists are currently detained by Russia after being mainly arrested in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. According to the Moscow Mechanism reports, Russia uses arbitrary detention and threats against journalists in the temporarily occupied territories to intimidate the population and to eliminate activists.

In Russia and Belarus, the systematic crackdown on independent media has reached unprecedented levels. This has resulted in the closure of nearly all independent media organizations, leading to a media and information space almost entirely controlled by the state apparatus. At least 38 journalists and media actors are unjustly imprisoned in Russia, part of over 1500 political prisoners. In Belarus, at least 45 journalists and media actors are unjustly imprisoned among more than 1200 political prisoners. Many more journalists and media actors have been forced into exile. We call on both Russia and Belarus to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including those held by Russia in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

We are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating media freedom situation in other participating States, where journalists are labelled under so-called foreign agent laws and hindered from performing their duties. We urge Georgia to immediately and unconditionally release all journalists who are arbitrarily detained or arrested, and to engage in constructive dialogue with the RFoM and ODIHR to align its laws and actions with OSCE commitments. In Azerbaijan,  there has been an unsettling rise in cases brought against journalists and independent media outlets. We call on Azerbaijan to ensure all citizens‘ fundamental rights and to provide safe and dignified conditions for detainees in line with its OSCE commitments, including  access to health and independent legal services.  All those detained for exercising their fundamental rights should be released. We also echo the statement by the RFoM on March 27 calling for the swift release of journalists arrested in Türkiye while covering demonstrations.

Mr. Chair,

In this context, the role of the RFoM is more important than ever. We commend the RFoM’s continued work on the Safety of Journalists by creating a network of National Focal Points, developing guidelines and advising participating states on how to improve the implementation of their commitments from the 2018 Milan Ministerial Council decision. We are pleased to hear that the RFOM is developing a comprehensive capacity-building strategy to ensure that women journalists are able to take part in public debates online and offline without fear of harassment, attacks or violence.

Mr Chair

As pressure on journalists is often an early sign of a broader deterioration of the human rights situation, we also expect the RFOM to fulfil the early warning and rapid response function in cases of serious non-compliance with our shared commitments regarding freedom of expression and media freedom, including with respect to the protection of journalists and other media actors.

Thank you very much for listening.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2025.

The UK launched the Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) programme, a key component of the UK’s £500 million Global Blue Planet Fund.

In a panel discussion on blue economy and biodiversity, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the UK’s COAST programme will be launched in the Philippines this year to support coastal communities. The programme aims to assist the Philippine government to deliver more sustainable small-scale fisheries and local aquaculture, support local livelihoods, protect vital ecosystems and promote sustainable growth within local blue economies.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated:

As fellow island nations, we have critical roles to play in the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.

The announcement coincides with the 5th year anniversary of the UK-Philippines Climate Change and Environment Dialogue, which has been instrumental in delivering shared priorities on climate, nature and biodiversity between the UK and the Philippine governments.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils shared:

The UK is proud to support the Philippines unlock the potential of sustainable blue economy and catalyse blue finance to help coastal communities, especially the fisherfolk.

Joining the panel discussion were Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, Senator Loren Legarda, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Acting Executive Director Clarissa Arida and ADB Director General F. Cleo Kawawaki.

Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga said:

The United Kingdom and the Philippines, for our similarities as blue and archipelagic nations, have long been committed to the conservation and protection of the ocean, one of the world’s shared heritages.

Senator Loren Legarda said:

There’s so much to be done, but the first step is breaking barriers to access. Only by equipping women with education, capital and innovation can we truly build a resilient and inclusive blue economy.

The panellists underscored approaches to balance biodiversity protection and restoration with an expanding blue economy.

The Foreign Secretary also announced the new ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund EnCORE Wetlands Project – a £1.4m initiative in partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and Global Environment Centre.

This project will develop evidence-based policies, tools, and technologies to restore and conserve these critical ecosystems, ensuring wetlands and peatlands continue to play a key role in climate mitigation.

The project will begin with two model sites—Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in the Philippines and Maludam National Park in Malaysia—which will serve as blueprints for wider regional action.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 April 2025.

UK sanctions four Georgian officials, including Georgia’s General Prosecutor, as part of latest action against serious human rights violations.

• UK becomes first state to sanction Georgia’s General Prosecutor as part of latest action against serious human rights violations.
• Georgian Head of the Special Investigatory Service also targeted for failure to properly investigate crackdown on protesters.
• Designations build on five Georgian individuals sanctioned under the UK’s Global Human Rights regime in December 2024.

The UK has sanctioned four more high-ranking Georgian officials for their role in allowing serious human rights violations in response to legitimate protests in Georgia since 2024.

Last year saw a series of public protests erupt across the country, triggered by the actions of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream. In response, the authorities began an aggressive crackdown on demonstrations, attacking and arbitrarily detaining members of civil society, media and opposition figures.

With today’s action, the UK is the first state to sanction Georgia’s General Prosecutor and the Head of the Special Investigatory Service for failing in their positions to properly investigate those responsible for serious violence.

These measures support the UK Government’s work internationally to protect human rights, to reduce global instability and deter threats to UK national security – one of the foundations of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

“The scenes of brutal violence against protestors, journalists and opposition figures in Georgia were truly shocking. More than 100 days on, its authorities have failed to hold those responsible to account, flying in the face of Georgian Dream’s claim to be delivering a democratic future for its citizens.

“Our sanctions show the UK will not accept such a blatant lack of accountability by those in charge, and will continue to consider all options available to us until Georgia reverses its current trajectory. We stand with the people of Georgia and their constitutional right to fundamental freedoms and to pursue a European path.”

Individuals sanctioned today are:

1. Giorgi Gabitashvili, General Prosecutor
2. Karlo Katsitadze, Head of the Special Investigatory Service
3. Shalva Bedoidze, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia
4. Mirza Kezevadze, Deputy Chief of the Special Task Department

All four are excluded from the UK and its economy through UK travel bans and asset freezes.

Since the beginning of this year, Georgia’s ruling party – Georgian Dream – has attempted to push through legislation for a series of new repressive laws which critics say will be used to silence civil society and opposition parties, with the prospect of hefty prison sentences for non-compliance.

Today’s announcement adds to UK sanctions against five Georgian officials in December for their roles in the violent attacks against demonstrators, media and opposition figures following the government’s decision to pause the country’s move towards a European future in – a key tenant of Georgia’s constitution.

The UK previously paused its annual flagship strategic dialogue, the ‘Wardrop Dialogue’, suspended governmental programme support and restricted engagement with Georgian Dream in response to an increase in anti-western rhetoric and democratic backsliding which restrict media freedoms and limits equality for the Georgian people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 April 2025.

Ambassador Holland calls out Russia’s hollow words about peace while it continues to terrorise Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure.

Thank you, Madame Chair. It is now 29 days since Ukraine expressed its readiness to accept a full, unconditional and immediate 30-day ceasefire. If Russia reciprocated, we would be a huge step closer to ending this terrible war. They are yet to take this step.

Instead of showing a commitment to peace, President Putin has chosen to dither, delay and destroy. We have heard desperate and false accusations about the legitimacy of Ukraine’s democratically-elected President. This week the Kremlin said there remained questions “hanging in the air”, including what they say is Ukraine’s lack of control over those defending their homeland and its so-called militarisation. These accusations come from a government that has deployed North Korean troops to the front line and has just ordered the biggest conscription since the war began. They are absurd.

While the Russian state delays a ceasefire, it continues to terrorise Ukraine’s civilian population with indiscriminate aerial attacks. Earlier this week we met to condemn Russia’s awful missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, which claimed the lives of 20 people, including nine children, on 4 April. This attack came only a day after a further five civilians were killed by Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv and was followed by further civilian casualties during aerial attacks over the weekend. Since Ukraine committed to pursue a full ceasefire, Russia’s aerial attacks have increased.

Russia claims to have been respecting an energy ceasefire since 18 March, but it continues to launch attacks which result in damage to energy infrastructure, including two in the last week which left 50,000 people without power. Even when it appeared that Russia had agreed to the proposed Black Sea ceasefire, it immediately backtracked, imposing new and unwarranted conditions. And yet Russia has the cheek to accuse Ukraine of not being serious about peace.

Killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure is not the behaviour of a state genuinely willing to pursue meaningful peace talks. These attacks on the people of Ukraine, including its children and most vulnerable citizens, demonstrate the Russian Government’s true intentions. Their words of peace are so far hollow. We urge the Russian government to commit to peace, end the barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s civilians, and finally demonstrate the sincerity of its words.

Thank you, Madame Chair.

STORY

At a United Nations Security Council meeting on April 10, 2025, the United Kingdom formally welcomed the establishment of Syria’s new transitional government, marking a significant step in the nation’s political transition following the fall of the Assad regime. Jess Jambert-Gray, the UK’s Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, acknowledged the progress made, stating, “The UK welcomes the announcement on the formation of the new Syrian government.” She emphasised the importance of inclusive representation in state institutions and future appointments, including the Legislative Committee, and called for a clear timeline for the next phases of the transition.

However, the UK expressed concern over ongoing violence threatening Syria’s stability, particularly Israeli military actions resulting in civilian casualties. Jambert-Gray urged all parties to uphold the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, respect Syrian territorial integrity, and prioritise diplomacy over force. Highlighting the humanitarian crisis, she noted that after fourteen years of conflict, Syrians continue to face immense challenges. The UK has pledged up to $207 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Syrian people. Jambert-Gray called on all parties to ensure humanitarian access across Syria and the protection of civilian lives.