Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2024.

UK Statement for the Universal Periodic Review Adoption of Chile as delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

The UK welcomes Chile’s commitment to the values and principles we uphold together here in the Human Rights Council and elsewhere through its proactive consideration of the UPR recommendations.

We are pleased to see Chile continue with the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Follow-Up Mechanism working with the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, to further strengthen the oversight and accountability of policing.

We also acknowledge Chilean commitment to gender equality and equity, and hope this leads to further progress in strengthening sexual and reproductive rights in Chile.

We look forward to the Chilean government making further progress to protect the well-being of the LGBT+ community, working together with Chile’s vibrant and diverse civil society.

Chile frequently speaks out to demand the protection and promotion of democracy, equality and human rights for all, globally. We are therefore pleased the Chilean government is matching that rigour and energy in its efforts to strengthen its own human rights safeguards domestically. This demonstrates that Chile is taking steps to ensure its words are matched by its actions and should serve as a model internationally.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2024.

Mobilisation of climate finance set to be boosted across East Africa through new UK-backed company as investors put pen to paper to begin operations.

• Investors back Dhamana Guarantee Company’s work to transform East Africa’s financial landscape.
• Tackling climate change given another boost in Kenya as, for second time in a week, a UK-Government backed investor in green finance solutions puts pen to paper.

Monday 30 September 2024 – Dhamana Guarantee Company Ltd (Dhamana) has reached a major milestone, marked at an event in Nairobi today.

Investors in the new company put pen to paper at a signing ceremony, which will allow the company to kick-start operations.

Dhamana aims to mobilise private sector finance to support the development of sustainable businesses. It will do so by issuing guarantees to commercially viable projects, businesses, and institutions that tackle the climate crisis and make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The design and creation of the company was supported by the UK-Government backed investor the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through InfraCo Africa. With its anchor investment, PIDG kick-started Dhamana, attracting further equity investment from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and CPF Group, with support provided by Cardano Development and FSD Africa.

Dhamana is a new limited liability company based in Kenya with a mandate to deliver for the East African region – including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. It will provide credit guarantees on debt capital market instruments, to boost the credit rating of such instruments and crowd in investment from pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds to support sustainable infrastructure and business development in East Africa.

Dhamana will target businesses that add value to people’s lives, improving the day-to-day life of Kenyans and of people across the region. The increase in affordable finance for Kenyan businesses will mean projects will require less capital to get off the ground, make money, and generate growth. Dhamana will also enable investors to diversify their portfolios, acting as a catalyst to transform East Africa’s financing landscape.

This is the second time in a week that an investor in climate solutions backed by the UK Government has achieved a milestone. Last week, MOBILIST signed a partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange which aims to drive the listing of new investment products in the Kenyan market and increase the amount of private sector capital available for development and climate projects in Kenya and drive growth.

Dhamana CEO, Christopher Olobo, said:

With the support of our investors and supporters, we have worked to develop Dhamana as an important catalyst for long-term sustainable finance in the region. Dhamana’s local currency guarantees will connect pools of untapped capital with East Africa’s real economy, making a tangible difference to people’s lives and offering local investors the opportunity to invest in Paris-aligned initiatives.

Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director, British High Commission Nairobi, Leigh Stubblefield, said:

For the second time in a week I am proud to say that the UK has supported a climate finance solution in Kenya – an example of our long-term commitment to long-term investment and growth. This is a great pan-Africa partnership that will improve the lives of East Africans for the better, and as the saying goes, we go far when we go together.

Representing PIDG, InfraCo Africa CEO, Gilles Vaes, added:

Building on the success of other PIDG-supported credit enhancement facilities in Nigeria and Pakistan, Dhamana will demonstrate the value of such a facility in the East African market, opening up opportunities for investors and clients alike. Crucially, Dhamana will engage new partners and investors in our efforts to urgently address the climate crisis and accelerate delivery of the UN sustainable development goals.

In his remarks at the launch event, Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialisation, said:

The African Development Bank’s equity investment in Dhamana reinforces the catalytic role and potential of credit enhancement companies in leveraging opportunities for infrastructure financing in local currency and supporting debt capital markets deepening in our regional member countries. We intend to replicate this business model in appropriate markets across Africa with partners such as the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and others. The first example of this type of credit enhancement company was InfraCredit in Nigeria which has had demonstrated success, and now Dhamana in East Africa. The investment in Dhamana aligns with the Bank’s priority to mobilise financing through innovative vehicles from African institutional funds including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies for infrastructure development in Africa.

On his part, Dr. Hosea Kili, OGW – CPF Group Managing Director/CEO – said:

We are proud to be part of this transformative initiative through Dhamana Guarantee Company. We believe in the power of innovative financial solutions to drive sustainable growth. By leveraging local currency guarantees, Dhamana will unlock critical capital for critical infrastructure projects, advancing economic development. This partnership aligns with our commitment to investing in initiatives that improve the lives of people’s lives and our economy while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Joost Zuidberg, CEO of Cardano Development concluded:

Dhamana’s true strength lies in its capacity to attract significant investments from East Africa’s institutional capital, laying a strong foundation for future scaling up according to its sizeable potential and thus meaningfully contribute to sustained economic growth in the region. Part of our core work is to incubate guarantee solutions for emerging and frontier markets, and we are thrilled to formalise this partnership today, as we collectively provide Dhamana with the crucial support and capital needed to fulfil this vital objective.

Notes to Editors

The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership

The UK-Kenya strategic partnership joint statement can be found here.

About Dhamana

Dhamana Guarantee Company (Dhamana): Dhamana is working to catalyse the development of domestic capital markets in East Africa. It does this by connecting significant under-utilised sources of domestic institutional capital with the real economy, such as new green infrastructure, and providers of credit to  businesses. This increases access and the affordability of local capital, providing new low-risk opportunities for local investors. Dhamana will also serve to provide a portfolio of businesses with access to the local currency capital needed to deliver bankable projects, meeting the high demand for new affordable housing, transportation, water, and energy infrastructure, and promoting long term economic development. www.dhamana.com

About PIDG

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and south and south-east Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of pioneering, partnership, safety, inclusivity, and urgency. PIDG offers Technical Assistance for upstream, early-stage activities and concessional capital; its project development arm – which includes InfraCo Africa and InfraCo Asia – invests in early-stage project development and project and corporate equity. PIDG credit solutions include EAIF (the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund), one of the first and more successful blended debt funds in low-income markets; GuarantCo, its guarantee arm that provides credit enhancement and local currency solutions to de-risk projects; and a growing portfolio of local credit enhancement facilities, which unlocks domestic institutional capital for infrastructure financing. Since 2002, PIDG has supported 233 infrastructure projects to financial close, which provided an estimated 228 million people with access to new or improved infrastructure. PIDG is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Global Affairs Canada, Germany, and the IFC. www.pidg.org

About the African Development Bank (AfDB)

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. www.afdb.org

About the CPF Group

The CPF Group offers a comprehensive range of services through its various subsidiaries including  CPF Financial Services which administers both private and public pension funds; notably – the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS); The Local Authorities Pensions Trust (LAPTRUST); the Taifa Pension Fund; the County Pension Fund and CPF Individual Pension Plan. The funds under our administration have a total membership of just over 500,000 members.

Other subsidiaries include Laser Infrastructure & Technology Solutions (LITES); Laser Property Services; Rukisha Advances payment platform; CPF Asset Managers; CPF Capital & Advisory; and Laser Insurance Brokers (LIB).  The Group offers a wide range of services in ICT & renewable energy solutions, Property Services, Insurance Brokerage, Smart Money platform, fund management, Transaction Advisory, Trust fund services, training & consultancy, and Corporate Trustee Services. Derived from uncompromised commitment to fulfilling lives, the CPF Group prioritises new models and approaches in engineering turnkey solutions for clients across the region. www.cpfgroup.or.ke

About Cardano Development

Cardano Development (CD), established in 2007, incubates new companies, and creates and manages fund managers. Through careful risk-management analysis in data poor settings, CD identifies scalable solutions that can help to make frontier financial markets more inclusive, investible, and sustainable to unlock lasting economic value. CD creates scalable solutions for currency, credit, and liquidity risks in these markets. With over USD 6 billion assets and USD 3.1 billion capital under management, CD supports scale-up ventures (TCX, GuarantCo, Frontclear, BIX Capital, ILX Fund, AGRI3 Fund), and a number of new start-ups, with ongoing management support services and corporate governance oversight. www.cardanodevelopment.com.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy announces that the UK has chartered a flight to help British citizens seeking to leave Lebanon.

• the UK has chartered a flight to help meet any additional demand British nationals and their dependants wanting to leave Lebanon
• the flight is scheduled to leave Beirut on Wednesday 2 October. Any further flights in the coming days will depend on demand and the security situation on the ground
• vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for this flight

The UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon to help British nationals wanting to leave following escalating violence in the region, the Foreign Secretary announced on Monday (30 September).

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document. Dependants who are not British nationals will require valid visas/permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than 6 months.

The government has worked with partners in recent weeks to increase capacity on commercial flights to enable British nationals to leave, and has now chartered a flight to provide additional capacity.

The flight is due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday (2 October). Those who have registered their presence with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will be sent details on how to request a seat.

If you’re a British national in Lebanon and have not already registered your presence there, you should do so immediately.

Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised for this flight. This includes those with greatest need, including those with medical conditions, over-65s and children. British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they have a confirmed seat on the plane.

Any non-British dependants boarding the flight will require a visa, granted for at least 6 months, to enter the UK, in line with usual immigration rules and entry process.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.

The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority.

That’s why the UK government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.

UK government officials have been working non-stop in London, Beirut and the wider region to provide support to British nationals to continue contingency planning for a range of scenarios in the region.  An FCDO Rapid Deployment Team has also arrived in Lebanon to bolster the support offered by British Embassy officials.

The safety of British nationals in Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) continues to be the UK government’s utmost priority and the FCDO urges everyone to continue to follow the relevant travel advice, exercise caution, and monitor media in Lebanon for developments.

The UK has been calling for a ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel for over a week and that further escalation must be avoided. A ceasefire would provide the space necessary to find a political solution in line with Resolution 1701.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2024.

Address by Minister for the Middle East in Washington DC to mark the 10th anniversary of the Global Coalition against Daesh.

• Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer will address the Global Coalition against Daesh meeting hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken
• the meeting in Washington DC comes after a US-Iraqi joint announcement on the transition of the Coalition military mission into a new security arrangement under Iraqi leadership
• the minister will meet with a number of Global Coalition countries, including the US and Iraq, to discuss the importance of supporting Iraq in defeating Daesh

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Global Coalition against Daesh, the Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer is in Washington DC today to attend its annual ministerial-level meeting.

At the meeting he will reflect on the huge progress achieved by the Coalition towards eradicating Daesh in Iraq and Syria over the past decade and look ahead to further government support.

Recent UK action has included support of the Iraqi Security Forces to prevent the resurgence of Daesh networks, funding stabilisation in communities formerly occupied by Daesh, and working to discredit its propaganda in multiple languages through the Counter-Daesh Communications Cell.

The global meeting will see ministers and representatives from the 87 partners of the Global Coalition gather to discuss the continuing threat from Daesh and to commemorate efforts to counter Daesh and stabilise liberated areas in Iraq and Syria.

The meeting comes shortly after the announcement that the Coalition’s military operation in Iraq will transition into a range of new security arrangements. The UK and the Global Coalition forces have helped Iraq to prevent the resurgence of Daesh.

Since 2014, the UK has trained over 120,000 security forces through Operation SHADER and contributed over £500 million in humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to affected communities and internally displaced persons in Iraq and Syria.

In response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the UK has provided over £4.3 billion in aid to support millions of people in Syria and across the region by improving humanitarian conditions for those in dire need and supporting early recovery and resilience, such as through agricultural and livelihoods opportunities.

Hamish Falconer will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to tackle the continuing threat posed by Daesh and to help people and communities affected by their appalling activities rebuild their lives.

Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:

In the decade since the UK helped form the Coalition we have made enormous progress together, including defeating Daesh territorially. However, Daesh is a threat that continues to destroy lives, in the Middle East and beyond. We now renew our commitment promoting security and stability in areas targeted by the terrorists, and to ensuring they can never resurge.

I am proud of the UK’s continuing role in the Coalition, from supporting security partners in Iraq and Syria, to rebuilding communities affected by terrorism, to leading international efforts against Daesh’s appalling propaganda.

The minister will meet the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, to discuss how the 2 countries can develop their security partnership and the role the UK plays in developing Iraq’s counter propaganda abilities.

He will highlight the invaluable work of the Communications Cell, hosted by the UK, whose targeted campaigns have diminished support for terrorism. Through work to undermine Daesh propaganda in the Middle East, Afghanistan and parts of Africa, the UK’s Counter-Daesh Communications Cell has reached audiences in the tens of millions, contributing to a sustained reduction in support for the terrorist group, and increased public trust in legitimate authorities and security forces.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2024.

The 2024 Canada-U.K. Media Freedom Award has been presented today to independent Afghan journalists and media organizations for their courageous reporting despite restrictions imposed by the Taliban.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and H.E. Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa) of the United Kingdom, presented the award to Lotfullah Najafizada, CEO of Amu TV, on behalf of his fellow independent Afghan journalists and media organizations.

This award signals the enduring commitment of both Canada and the United Kingdom to support free and independent journalism.

Every day, independent Afghan journalists and media organizations continue to offer a platform for uncensored information and hope in Afghanistan in the face of the severe repression brought by the Taliban since August 2021.

Independent reporters and media organizations navigate the risks posed by the Taliban’s harsh crackdown on journalism, working bravely to ensure the continuation of free press in a difficult climate. They report on significant issues affecting Afghanistan under Taliban rule, including human rights violations and the plight of women and girls, including forced marriages and bans on education.

Established in 2020, the Canada-U.K. Media Freedom award recognises those who have championed freedom of speech and democracy.

Egyptian online newspaper Mada Masr won the award in 2023. Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang was named as winner in 2022, and the 2020 winner was the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

The announcement of the 2024 award comes during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

The Media Freedom Coalition, which the U.K. and Canada co-founded and now has more than 50 members, celebrated its fifth anniversary during the week’s activities.

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada said:

We commend the independent Afghan journalists and media organizations who are working courageously and tirelessly to bring the world up-to-date information and thoughtful, expert analysis about what is happening in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

Media freedom remains essential to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world. These independent journalists and media organizations are giving a voice to people whose voices are being silenced. Canada will continue to support them, together with our partners.

Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa said:

Despite the many restrictions they work under, these brave Afghan journalists have found innovative ways to get accurate, timely and valuable information to the people of Afghanistan, including on the plight of women and girls. They play a vital role in preserving the truth. The U.K. remains committed to media freedom, and to championing human rights and democracy around the world.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2024.

Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Yemen gave a joint statement on the Houthis’ unjustified detention of people in Yemen.

Statement by representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Yemen:

On September 25, representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Yemen met to discuss the impact of unjustified Houthi detentions of United Nations, NGO, civil society, former diplomatic mission, and other staff in Yemen.

These individuals must be released immediately, and all staff must be allowed to perform their work without fear of unjustified detention or intimidation. We call on all countries and organizations to explore every possible diplomatic channel to advance negotiations for the release of current detainees.

The Houthis must respect international norms and ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic, humanitarian, civil society, and United Nations personnel. We cannot in good conscience put individuals at risk of unjustified detention or worse by continuing business as usual.

As a result of the detentions, we support the United Nations in its decision to minimize the exposure of staff to risk in Houthi-controlled territories. We welcome the UN decision to suspend all non-life saving and non-life sustaining activities in Houthi-controlled areas and call on the international community to redirect such assistance to elsewhere in the country. We urge the Houthis to provide an adequate operating environment in which principled humanitarian assistance can be implemented.

Delivering aid to those most in need across Yemen remains an international humanitarian imperative and requires an operating environment which assures the safety and security of aid workers. We underscore our strong concern for the welfare and dignity of the Yemeni people, and our desire to continue to be able to support their well-being, which is inhibited by the actions and repression of the Houthis.

We reaffirm our strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and our determination to stand by the people of Yemen.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2024.

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, gave a statement during Kazakhstan’s first WTO Trade Policy Review.

1. Thank you very much, Chair. First of all, let me offer a really warm welcome to the Minister and all his team from Astana. Great to have you here. Great to have you back, Ambassador Zanar Aitzhan, really lovely to see you. Let me thank you, Chair, as ever, for your introduction, the WTO Secretariat for your report and, of course, our Ambassador Sophia Boza Martinez, Ambassador and, of course, Professor. Thank you for your presentation this morning.
2. As this is the first Trade Policy Review since Kazakhstan’s accession 10 years ago, obviously, today, this week, indeed offers a really unique opportunity to reflect upon Kazakhstan’s trade policies over the last decade. And thank you, Minister, for your presentation to kick us off this morning, but also for the role that trade policy has played not just in Kazakhstan’s development, which you explained, but also in this organisation and in our work over the last 10 years.
3. Chair, I think probably is not a surprise to you or to most of the people in this room, but the UK is a great believer in the virtues and benefits of WTO accession. And I think they’re demonstrated by Kazakhstan’s economic performance over the last 10 years: trade growth from 57% of GDP back in 2017 to 62% last year, Most Favoured Nation tariff decrease from almost 8% in 2016 to 6% now.
4. During that same period, again, as the Minister related at the beginning, Kazakhstan has faced the shock, political, economic shock of the pandemic, but showed significant broad-based economic resilience. And we think that is, in part, the fruit of being a member of this organization. We particularly recognize the success of the ‘Digital Kazakhstan’ programme, which has facilitated the growth of so many Kazakh SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises).
5. The UK is, again, both the Minister and Sophia mentioned, a strong believer in the Kazakhstan’s economy. We are one of Kazakhstan’s top six investors, with an annual trade turnover of almost £ 3 billion, which reflects, in our view, a strategic partnership which we have nurtured since Kazakhstan’s independence back in 1991. And that partnership stretches across many areas, from business and education to climate and biodiversity and all the way from Astana and the Caspian Sea to the shores of Lake Geneva here in Switzerland.
6. For instance, Kazakhstan’s national airline Air Astana was successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange earlier this year; British universities, including Coventry and De Montfort, have opened campuses in Kazakhstan and offered dual degree programmes; British companies have made significant investments in flagship oil and gas projects and Kazakhstan’s mining sector. And here in Geneva, we are close partners, not just here in this organization, but also in the Human Rights Council, where we are proud to work with Kazakhstan as an elected member of that body.
7. We welcome Kazakhstan’s commitment to continue broadening and deepening that bilateral relationship. We look forward to hosting our annual Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Investment in London this autumn, and that 11th session of the Commission will provide an important opportunity to discuss how we can further strengthen that relationship for the future, with the first meeting since we signed the UK-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
8. Our engagement with this Trade Policy Review has been motivated by a desire to build upon that bilateral progress. Kazakhstan’s constructive answers to our Advanced Written Questions, thank you, should provide clarity, and we hope ease trade for UK and Kazakh businesses.
9. Most of all, Chair, Minister, we’d welcome progress in tackling one key Market Access Barrier that is faced by British businesses, and that is the use of subsidies favouring domestic agricultural machinery over imported “like” machinery. We fully understand the importance of increasing domestic manufacturing for Kazakhstan’s economy, but we do believe that those subsidies negatively impact Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector development, responsible for over 4% of GDP, pricing, we’d argue, the best technology out of the market. We’d also venture to suggest that those subsidies are not compliant with WTO rules. So, going forward, we would really like Kazakhstan to comply with those rules and take steps to modify or eliminate those subsidies.
10. We would also, I have to say, welcome Kazakhstan’s accession to the Government Procurement Agreement, as it suggested it would do during the WTO accession process. We maintain an offer of bilateral assistance, should you desire to take forward that process of accession.
11. More generally, let me pay tribute, as so many others have done this morning, to the role that Kazakhstan has played within this organisation since its accession. Minister, you touched on it, as did Sophia, most significantly the pivotal role you played in chairing the MC12 negotiations, even if we were denied the opportunity, sadly, by the Pandemic of a visit to Astana. It was a great privilege to work with Ambassador Aitzhan, who led the charge for the delivery, not just of that Ministerial Conference, but also for the Services paragraph, and it has been a great tribune for services in trade in this organisation as Chair of the Council for Trade in Services in Special Session. Your work is not being left unfinished. We need to push forward with ensuring that we give due recognition in this organization to the rapidly growing global services in trade, which offer such opportunities for countries in both the developed and developing world.
12. We also welcome Kazakhstan’s participation within a whole range of other plurilateral initiatives, as others have said this morning, including those on Investment Facilitation for Development, E-commerce and Services Domestic Regulation, all really important initiatives which we wish to see brought within the framework of this organisation.
13. And it would be remiss of me as one of the co-chairs of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, not to mention, as my Ukrainian colleague did, Kazakhstan’s commitment not just to that Working Group, but to the cause of trade and gender equality, particularly through enhancing women’s employment and entrepreneurial skills. So, I would really love Kazakhstan to come to that Working Group to share its experiences in supporting women in trade, including the Business Roadmap 2020-25 initiative, at one of our future meetings.
14. Finally, let me commend the Minister and is delegation, who had to face the WTO internal deadline of the 30th of August for submitting Advanced Written Questions, coinciding with their most important national holiday, the Constitution Day. I hope that they found time to have their own belated celebrations, if they haven’t done so far. And I hope that, at the end of this week, they will celebrate in style in this fair city.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2024.

Interactive Dialogue on the UN Secretary General’s Report on Reprisals. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr President, and thank you to the Secretary General for his tireless work to highlight continuing efforts to silence those who cooperate with the UN to defend human rights.

The UK pays tribute to these courageous individuals.

This time last year, we highlighted the intimidation and harassment faced by the son of Jimmy Lai, Sebastien, and his international legal team, for their engagement with this Council. We are deeply troubled that such tactics appear to have continued, including death and rape threats and repeated attempts to hack email and bank accounts as set out in this year’s report.

In Belarus, members of the Congress of Democratic Trade Unions have been detained for advocating for workers’ rights and engaging with the International Labour Organization.  Delegates of the Human Rights Centre Viasna face years in prison for cooperating with UN mechanisms.

In Vietnam, author and journalist Pham Doan Trang remains in detention for her work to advance human rights, including through her engagement with the UN.

And in Russia, the authorities have dissolved the NGO “Man and Law” citing its engagement with the UN.

Mr President, a conservative figure of 300 human rights defenders lost their lives in 2023; what can be done to reduce this terrible toll?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2024.

The UK is providing £5 million to UNICEF in Lebanon to support humanitarian response efforts and enable UNICEF to distribute supplies to those in need.

The essential humanitarian support comes after further civilian casualties following this week’s air strikes. Thousands more have been displaced or forced to flee their homes.

The package includes essential medical supplies, hygiene kits and fuel for water stations, to help thousands of displaced civilians across Lebanon meet their basic needs.

It will also help emergency teams respond to urgent health and nutrition needs and provide a series of training sessions for key delivery partners and frontline workers to ensure an effective emergency response.

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer said:

Today we are providing £5 million to UNICEF in Lebanon to support the urgent humanitarian response in Lebanon.  The number of civilian casualties is unacceptable, and the UK is deeply concerned by the surge in numbers of displaced people.

An immediate ceasefire is essential.

Development Director and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Beirut Victoria Dunne said:

We are profoundly saddened by the civilian deaths in Lebanon. The number of casualties and the scale of displacement is deeply distressing.

Alongside our tireless diplomatic efforts, the UK is providing £5m to UNICEF Lebanon, to deliver vital supplies to support thousands of displaced civilians facing a humanitarian emergency in Lebanon. The UK has been and will remain a strong supporter of Lebanon.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2024.

Statement by Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa and multilateralism, at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

President, let me start by underscoring a very clear message from my government. We need an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza now. And we need an immediate ceasefire across the Lebanon/Israel border now.

We are on the brink of a much larger regional war, which risks even more devastation and suffering. Unfortunately, as we have seen both on the ground today with further strikes in Beirut and as we have heard from speeches in the General Assembly hall, the escalation continues.

We urge Israel and Hizballah to heed the calls of the UK and our partners to immediately agree a 21-day ceasefire. Calm heads must prevail to end this cycle of violence.

President, today’s meeting was called to focus on the dire situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Almost one year into the conflict, 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians lack access to clean water and sanitation, facing the threat of disease and famine.

And 101 hostages are still held by Hamas in horrific conditions, as Israel and its people continue to reckon with the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in its history.

It is clear that there can be no military solution to this conflict. Israel and Hamas must agree a deal urgently.

In the meantime, Israel must fulfil its commitment to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid. Sadly this has not yet materialised.

Ahead of a winter, Israel must ensure that the right supplies and equipment can enter Gaza to protect vulnerable families.

And it must ensure it complies with its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.

Only last week over 200 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and many continue to live under a relentless barrage of attacks, unsafe in the shelters where they seek refuge.

The UK is also deeply concerned by the situation in the occupied West Bank. We call on Israel to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on actions of those who seek to inflame tensions.

The closure of Al Jazeera’s offices in Ramallah by the IDF is contrary to the democratic principles that Israel is rightly proud of. Media freedom and security of journalists must be respected.

President, without a revitalised political process towards a two-state solution we will not achieve a sustainable peace. We need galvanised international efforts to this end, and to realise a safe and secure Israel, alongside a safe and secure Palestinian state.

This must include the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in line with 1967 borders and under the effective control of the Palestinian Authority.

President, planning for Gaza’s future must also put Palestinians at the centre of governance, security, recovery and reconstruction efforts. This is the only way to deliver a lasting stability.

Together, we must stop the region slipping into a deeper crisis and pull it back on the path towards a peaceful future.