Tag: Foreign Office

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

Britain and India bolster trade ties during Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar’s visit to UK.

• Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar visits UK to boost £41 billion trading relationship
• UK welcomes the opening of 2 new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester
• move set to enhance economic growth and support further regional Indian investments in the UK delivering on the government’s Plan for Change

The UK-India partnership will strengthen further with the opening of 2 new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester, boosting regional economic ties and delivering on the growth agenda.

It comes as the UK welcomes Indian investment deals worth more than £100 million which is creating jobs, strengthening growth, and helping working people by putting more money in their pockets.

Before opening the consulates, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will meet with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House.

At Chevening, the foreign ministers will drive forward the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will focus on fostering mutual economic growth, technological innovation, and collaboration on global challenges including climate change. They will also discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the Middle East and other global affairs.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

One of my first visits as Foreign Secretary was to India because deepening our partnership for our shared growth and security is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change.

Dr Jaishankar and I are supercharging our £41 billion trading relationship with India, after trade talks were relaunched in Delhi. It is the floor, not the ceiling of our ambitions that will benefit both our economies.

The opening of new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester demonstrate the growing links between our peoples and how we are working together to deliver growth not only in London, but right across the UK. This expansion of India’s diplomatic presence will further boost our trading relationship and support the valued Indian community in the UK.

Ministers are also set to discuss the Technology Security Initiative, launched during the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Delhi in July 2024. They will touch on the opportunities for citizens in both countries that will come from closer collaboration in sectors such as artificial intelligence, telecoms and critical minerals. Opportunities include more effective and affordable healthcare and more resilient supply chains, as well as greater innovation, investment and job creation.

And the visit will highlight the living bridge between the UK and India, including a special reception with Chevening scholars at Chevening House, celebrating India’s position as home to the world’s largest Chevening programme.

Background

• Chevening is the UK government’s flagship international scholarships and fellowships programme. It offers fully funded scholarships (including tuition, travel and living expenses) for a one-year postgraduate course in the UK
• it also offers short term fellowships to mid-career professionals in cyber security, science and innovation, journalism, and leadership and excellence
• it is mandatory for scholars and fellows to return to their home country upon completion of their course
• the Chevening programme in India is the largest in the world, benefiting over 3,900 scholars and fellows since 1983. Over 40% of Chevening scholars in India come from outside metro cities, are first generation learners, and belong to lesser privileged groups

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2025.

UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion or Belief. Delivered by MP and the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith.

Thank you, Madame Vice-President.

The UK reiterates its commitment to protecting and promoting FoRB for all – including through my role as the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The Special Rapporteur’s recent report on the intersection of FoRB and torture highlighted deeply concerning cases of violations and torture in detention centres. The report notes that in Myanmar, detainees were denied the right to observe their  faith through psychological torture and attempts by the State to change their religious identity. And in Sudan, non-Muslims were reportedly coerced to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid and education.

The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture. Preventing torture and tackling impunity for those who torture is vital to safeguarding our security and rule of law.

We must collectively do more to address and prevent torture and ensure the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief is protected.

Special Rapporteur,

What steps would you advise to ensure more States investigate cases of torture, and safeguard the right to freedom of religion or belief, in detention centres?

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2025.

Statement to the 108th Session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, by Her Excellency Joanna Roper, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Chairperson, Director General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

Let me start by extending my thanks to His Excellency, Director General Fernando Arias, for his comprehensive report demonstrating the significant and increasing demands on this organisation and the progress he has made. I would also like to thank His Excellency, Ambassador Terán Parral for chairing this session and for his excellent leadership of the Executive Council since May 2023.

Mr Chairperson,

At long last, with the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria is now in a position to take a fresh approach to its engagement with the OPCW and finally close the file on the chemical weapons programme. This is an opportunity that few could have imagined 12 months ago.

We welcome commitments made by Syria’s Interim Authorities to cooperate with the Technical Secretariat and international community to this end. We warmly welcome the DG’s report of his recent visit and note on the way forward. We look ahead to the rapid deployment of OPCW technical teams on the ground to help Syria deliver a full, complete and accurate declaration; and to start destruction. And I would like to thank the Permanent Representative of Qatar for representing Syria’s interests at the OPCW since December so effectively.

After more than a decade, we are urging Syria to turn the page on the horrific legacy of Assad’s chemical weapons programme and we must support it to do so. We call on States Parties to support the Technical Secretariat and the Syrian Arab Republic to complete the job of destroying the Assad Regime’s chemical weapons. The UK has recently announced additional funding for the OPCW’s Syria Missions – we have given a total of more than £1m to the OPCW’s Syria Trust Fund over the past year. And yesterday, Mr Chairperson, I sent a letter to the Director General, confirming that we will provide a comprehensive offer of practical support to him and his team later this month.

Mr Chairperson,

I wish that I could reflect positive progress on other states of concern. Russia continues to undermine the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is now three years since Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine – a brutal attack on the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of a democratic state. As my Prime Minister said last week: “For three years we have been united in opposition to Russia’s barbaric invasion. And for three years we have been full of admiration for the incredible response of the Ukrainian people.”

Let there be no doubt, UK support to Ukraine will remain steadfast.

Russia continues to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. We note the conclusions of the Technical Secretariat’s most recent Technical Assistance Visit report issued on 14 February. This report confirmed the presence of CS gas in samples taken from three separate incidents in Ukraine, establishing a pattern of violations of the CWC across a wide geographic area. There must now be attribution for such attacks, and the perpetrators must be held to account.

We must not forget Russia has form in regularly violating international law concerning chemical weapons. Seven years ago today, on 4 March 2018, Russia deployed Novichok nerve agent on the streets of the United Kingdom. This attack resulted in the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess. Russia also used Novichok to poison Alexei Navalny in Russia in 2020.

Mr Chairperson,

Russia has set a damaging example. We must defend the fundamental principles of the Chemical Weapons Convention. We are extremely concerned by reports which suggest that the Sudanese Armed Forces have used chemical weapons in Sudan. Sudan, like any other State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, must abide by its obligations.

Mr Chairperson,

We also welcome the Technical Secretariat’s response to the opportunities and risks of emerging technology. The excellent Morocco AI Conference in October, and the AI Research Challenge, co-funded by the UK, provide a sound foundation for our collective efforts to capture the benefits of new technologies, and to understand the security risks they will pose.

Mr Chairperson,

The Director General is critical to the success of this organisation. This body has important work to do over the coming months to find a worthy successor to Director General Arias.  As the British say, they will have big shoes to fill.

Events in Syria and continuing Russian breaches demonstrate that the OPCW remains central to international security. This Council must provide its unwavering support for every aspect of the OPCW’s work at this critical juncture.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 March 2025.

UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

A UK spokesperson said:

Thank you, Mr President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her work and welcome the recommendations in the recent report on hostage-taking.

The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture. There are no circumstances whatsoever that justify the use of torture or hostage taking. It is an abhorrent violation of human rights and human dignity.

We strongly believe that the prevention of torture, and tackling impunity for those who use torture, are essential components of safeguarding our security and integral to a fair legal system and the rule of law.

We are proud to work with partners and civil society to support torture prevention initiatives globally, including through our support for the Association for the Prevention of Torture. The UK is a signatory of the Declaration against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations and remains a vocal supporter of the Canadian-led initiative in its efforts to combat this practice.

We encourage the small minority of states which have not yet done so to ratify and implement the UN Convention against Torture, and the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages.

Special Rapporteur,

How can we better support states to overcome the barriers preventing them from ratifying the UN Convention against Torture?

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

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the vote on the UN Security Council Resolution 2776 on Al-Shabaab Sanctions.

The unanimous adoption of this resolution today sends a clear message: the Council is united in its determination to support Somalia’s efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

This resolution retains a powerful package of sanctions designed to further degrade Al-Shabaab, disrupt its finances, strengthen international collaboration and support Somalia in building its own capabilities.

And it again demonstrates the Council’s commitment to continue working with Somalia to ensure that these measures are adjusted progressively and appropriately in response to the evolving security context.

This was also the first Council resolution on this regime that we have negotiated with Somalia as a fellow member of the Security Council.

We welcome the constructive approach that all Council members took across this negotiation, which enabled us to arrive at this consensus outcome.

And we look forward to continuing our close engagement with Somalia, with Council members and with the region across the many vital upcoming Council decisions on Somalia this year.

Finally President, the resolution we have adopted today also recognises the particular concern posed by flows of weapons from Yemen to Somalia.

Al-Shabaab’s links to the Houthis are part of a wider pattern of Houthi destabilising activity beyond Yemen’s borders.

The 2713 and 2140 sanctions committees should coordinate closely to monitor and counter this trend.

And we call on all Council members to work collectively to tackle these links, which represent a significant risk to the stability of Somalia and the region.

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

UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council for the Item 2 General Debate. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr Vice President.

And thank you for your update, High Commissioner.

First of all, we share your concern at Thailand’s decision to deport forty Uyghurs to China. We urge China to ensure they are treated in accordance with international standards.

Mr Vice President,

Sudan’s people have suffered enough. This Council’s Fact-Finding Mission has reported appalling violence: women raped and sexually abused, people executed because of their ethnicity, children recruited as soldiers, and heavy artillery shelling including in civilian areas. All parties must adhere to their obligations to protect civilians and perpetrators of atrocities must be held accountable.

We commend DRC for its engagement with the Council and urge all parties to act in accordance with international law.

In Venezuela, civil society and independent media are targeted and political opposition face severe restrictions. We call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained.

And in Guatemala, the continuing persecution of justice officials linked to the fight against corruption is deeply concerning and must stop.

Finally, Mr President,

The situation in Libya remains precarious, with armed groups and security actors operating with impunity. We urge all Libyan actors to comply with international law and engage in the UN-facilitated and Libyan-led political process in good faith.

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

Sri Lanka Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council during the Item 2 General Debate. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, on behalf of the Core Group on Sri Lanka.

Thank you, Mr President,

This statement is by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom.

High Commissioner, we wish to thank you for your oral update on Sri Lanka

We would like to commend Sri Lanka’s peaceful elections and the smooth transition of power last year. We recognise that the new Sri Lankan Government has only been in place for four months, and we encourage Sri Lanka to use  the  opportunity that this transition represents to address the challenges it faces.

We appreciate the Government’s commitment to making meaningful progress on reconciliation and the initial steps taken, including returning land, lifting roadblocks, and allowing communities in the North and East to commemorate the past and to memorialise their loved ones.

In order to build and sustain trust, it is essential to ensure the protection of civil society spaces, including by ending surveillance and intimidation of civil society actors and organisations.

We welcome commitments to implement devolution in accordance with the constitution and to make progress on governance reforms.

We take note of the Government’s stated intention to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act and emphasise that any new legislation should be in line with Sri Lanka’s international obligations. We encourage the release of those who remain detained under the Act.

As the Government seeks to make progress on human rights and corruption cases, we urge that any comprehensive reconciliation and accountability process carry the support of affected communities, build on past recommendations and meet international standards.

We also encourage the Government to re-invigorate the work of domestic institutions focused on reparations and missing persons.

We reaffirm our willingness to work with the Government to ensure that any future transitional justice mechanisms are independent, inclusive, meaningful, and meet the expectations of affected communities.

Thank you.

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

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair Lord Pickles spoke about the UK’s achievements over the past year and handed over the presidency to Israel.

In February 1980, I first watched a sunrise over Jerusalem. Whenever I’ve returned to this wonderful city over the past 45 years, I still feel that feeling of warmth and wonderment.

As we stand at the Crossroads of Generations, there is no better place on Earth to draw together the future of remembrance.

The UK presidency aimed to bring out the best in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), engender confidence in difficult times, and, above all, to strengthen the organisation.

During our year, following a general election, Britain’s government changed from the Conservatives to Labour. There were many disagreements on political issues during the campaign, but there was complete unity on the need to fight antisemitism and to further Holocaust education and remembrance.

Both governments were clear that our presidency would put the interest of IHRA and remembrance before narrow national interest. I hope you agree that we have met those responsibilities.

Those of us who attended the poignant 80th-anniversary ceremony of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January know that we will never see the like again. Ten years from now, at the 90th anniversary, it is unlikely there will be Holocaust survivors to speak.

We are now the custodians of their memory. We must remember and tell the truth. We must uphold our founding document, the Stockholm Declaration, which is as relevant today as 25 years ago.

IHRA is a consensus organisation, which can be frustrating at times. But there is an upside – it requires the skills of listening and debate. IHRA is not a place for the repetition of prepared statements, it is a place where experts speak the truth to government.

One feature of the past year was bringing remembrance closer to local communities. The ‘My Hometown’ initiative asked young people to research what happened in their towns during the Holocaust. It showed them that history is not distant – it is personal.

The ‘Holocaust in 80 Objects’ project used artefacts to tell the stories of victims and survivors. It reminded us that the Holocaust is not just statistics – it is millions of individual interlocking lives.

Under our leadership, the IHRA-UNESCO Capacity Building Training expanded. It now includes diplomatic networks and embassy staff. Those shaping international discourse must understand the dangers of Holocaust distortion.

This work has left a lasting impact – embedding Holocaust memory into education, public policy, and diplomacy. The move to new technologies that allows memory preservation will ensure that future generations can still connect with survivor voices.

I hope Israel can build on the AI conference we hosted in London. We must unlock the potential of AI, if we don’t our opponents certainly will.

IHRA is the only international organisation focusing on Holocaust remembrance, education and research. That is worth holding on to. To remain relevant, we must be adequately resourced.

I am grateful that the Israeli presidency has pledged there will be proposals to make our finances sustainable when we meet in Jerusalem in June.

I wish Israel a successful presidency. With Dani at the helm and with the support of Ruty and Yossi, Richelle, and Rob Rozette, I look forward to 2025 with confidence.

Finally, I wish for 3 things. As the United Kingdom passes the flickering torch of Holocaust remembrance to Israel:

• may its light shine bright over Jerusalem
• may it illuminate the Crossroads of the Generations
• may it show us the right path

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

UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue on on the High Commissioner’s Report on Myanmar. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you High Commissioner for your update.

We are now in the fourth year since the coup and the crisis in Myanmar is only deepening. The military continues to intensify its violent and repressive onslaught. Schools and hospitals have been targeted. Indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians have increased. There is no justification for such abhorrent attacks on innocent civilians.

The UK is alarmed by the escalating violence, human rights violations and gender-based violence. All actors, especially the Myanmar Military, must prioritise the protection of civilians. We call on the Military to stop the violence – especially the airstrikes – and release all those arbitrarily detained.

The humanitarian situation is critical, with almost 20 million people in need of assistance. We call on all actors, especially the military, to allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. The UK is providing more than £66 million in assistance this year.

Accountability is vital. We must break the cycle of impunity. This is why the UK supports the work of the International Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. And this is why we announced our nineteenth round of sanctions in November last year targeting the military regime’s access to arms, aviation fuel and dual-use equipment.

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

After a successful year as Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the UK hands over the presidency to Israel on 3 March 2025.

The UK has concluded its presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which ran from March 2024 to February 2025.  The presidency’s theme, “In Plain Sight”, drew attention to the fact that the Holocaust did not happen in a dark corner.  This highlighted the nature of society that allowed the murder of 6 million Jewish men, women and children, and shone a spotlight on all those who had a part to play.

Our presidency focused on safeguarding remembrance of the Holocaust and securing the narrative for the future. This included tackling Holocaust distortion, and exploring the role of artificial intelligence as a force for both good and bad in Holocaust education and distortion.

During our presidency, we delivered our ‘My Hometown’ project, supporting young people across the IHRA membership in learning about their local Holocaust history.  Fifty six schools from across 15 countries took part.  A gallery of all the projects can be found on our implementing partner’s website.

We also published the 80 Objects-80 Lives digital exhibition, delivered in partnership with the Association of Jewish Refugees. In the exhibition, Holocaust survivors shared personal stories connected to their possessions in a series of eighty short videos.

We were also pleased to work with the Association of Jewish Refugees to launch their new UK testimony portal. This brings together UK testimony on one platform for the first time.

The UK hosted 2 plenary meetings, bringing together around 300 IHRA delegates in Glasgow in June and London in December, to discuss efforts to strengthen Holocaust remembrance, education and research.

We made progress in a range of areas, including the launch of the Archival Access Forum, to facilitate the sharing of best practice in accessing and preserving Holocaust-related archive materials.

We launched guidance on the implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism for sporting institutions. We also hosted a successful Roma conference attended by representatives of the Roma community from across Europe, and launched IHRA’s recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Roma.

Our presidency also explored the role of emerging technologies in Holocaust education and distortion. We co-hosted an event with the OSCE in Romania. This considered how artificial intelligence could be used as a force for good in Holocaust education and in identifying and tackling instances of antisemitism and Holocaust distortion online. It also explored its more negative uses in facilitating Holocaust distortion. We continued these discussions in the margins of the London plenary, during a follow up conference on the role of artificial intelligence

Domestically, we published the outcome of a review establishing the facts around the number of prisoners who died on Alderney during the Nazi occupation. This review played an important role in bringing to an end conspiracies and misinformation surrounding this crucial period of history.

Finally, we marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration on Holocaust Remembrance. In February, we brought together IHRA delegates alongside key figures who have played a role in strengthening international action on Holocaust commemoration over the past 25 years. Together we reflected on our achievements and look ahead to the future of remembrance.

The Holocaust will sadly soon move from our living memory into the history books, and we will no longer be able to hear survivors tell their stories first-hand. It is therefore essential that we continue to do all we can to safeguard Holocaust sites, encourage greater transparency of Holocaust-related archives, and promote testimony and the stories of Holocaust-related objects.