Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 November 2022.

Ambassador Bush says that a clear pattern has emerged of repeated, systematic and brutal actions of Russia’s military and government against Ukrainian civilians.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to start by offering my condolences to those who lost their lives and those injured by the bombing in Istanbul – terrorism in all guises is abhorrent.

Turning to Ukraine, the UK also expresses condolences for the victims of the missiles which landed in Poland this Tuesday. We stand in solidarity with our ally, Poland. As my Foreign Secretary stated in our Parliament yesterday – the only reason missiles are flying through European skies, and landing in European villages, is because of Russia’s aggression. We commend Poland’s decisive, determined, but calm and professional response to the situation.

Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted the dire humanitarian impact of Russia’s intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, ahead of winter. Russia’s continued, callous targeting of Ukrainian cities this week shows only Putin’s weakness. These were the heaviest Russian missile strikes since the start of the war. Up to 10 million households were left without electricity, showing the cruelty of the approach by the Russian government and military.

Mr Chair, I would like to focus my statement today on life in the Ukrainian territories under temporary Russian control. This started in 2014, not in 2022. A clear pattern has emerged of the repeated, systematic and brutal actions of the Russian military and government against the civilian Ukrainian population. A clear pattern of violations of international law, including international humanitarian law. Horror after horror after horror.

In March 2014, Reshat Ametov was abducted while protesting outside a local government building in Simferopol, Crimea, in protest against the illegal takeover of Crimea by Russian troops. Two weeks later, his body was found with signs of torture. Since then, Russia has continued to persecute and restrict the fundamental freedoms of ethnic and religious groups, including Crimean Tatars like Reshat, with arbitrary arrests, torture and intimidation.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this year, two Moscow Mechanism Reports, and our weekly statements at this Council, have highlighted further Russian atrocities in Ukraine. The Moscow Mechanism Reports document grave human rights abuses and violations, including torture, executions of civilians, unlawful detention, enforced disappearances, rape of women and of children, and much more. We have condemned Russia’s “filtration centres” which subject Ukrainian civilians to interrogations, humiliating body searches and illegal deportations. We have condemned Russia’s sham, illegal referenda conducted down the barrel of a gun.

And today, we condemn the latest horrifying accounts coming from Kherson. Yevhenia Virlych, a journalist, stayed in Kherson for five months before escaping. Working in secret for her own safety, she documented how seven thousand people initially protested against Russia’s temporary control in March. Protests stopped by April – because Russian troops were shooting at civilian crowds. Another resident of Kherson, Ludmilla, is 76 years old. Ludmilla wept when she was handed a bag of food by an NGO in newly-liberated Kherson – and described her “months of hell” living under temporary Russian control. Ludmilla’s son was killed by shelling in May. Ludmilla’s daughter-in-law and grandchildren evacuated to Poland soon after. Like many others, they faced long and dangerous journeys, involving Russian check points and “filtration camps”. Ludmilla decided to stay at her family home and survived without running water, electricity or gas and with dwindling food supplies. Allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law, including the use of torture in Kherson are coming to light.

But there is hope. The Ukrainian flag has been raised again over Kherson only weeks after Putin declared that the city would be part of Russia “forever”. As Kherson and countless liberated settlements have demonstrated, Russia’s crimes are systematic and sustained. The Ukrainian people are fighting to take back what is rightfully and legally theirs and escape this living nightmare. In doing so, they are standing up for the fundamental OSCE principles that matter to all of us – of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force.

We welcome the news that the Black Sea Grain initiative will be renewed until March. Over 11 million tonnes of grain and other food have already been delivered since July. It is vital this continues.

Mr Chair, the way out of these horrors remains simple. President Putin must withdraw all Russian troops from Ukraine unreservedly and unconditionally. Russia must pay for the damage it has inflicted in Ukraine – as voted for by 94 countries at the UN this week. And those individuals responsible must be held to account for actions which are in clear violation of international law. As my Prime Minister said at the G20 this week, the UK will never back down when it comes to supporting the Ukrainian people in the face of this brutality. We will stand by Ukraine now and until Ukraine prevails. As long as it takes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 November 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on Ukraine.

Thank you President. And thank you to USG DiCarlo for your briefing.

I would like to start by offering our sympathies and condolences to the Polish people and the families of those injured and killed in yesterday’s incident.

While we await the outcome of the investigation, we should be clear that this is a tragedy that indisputably stems from Russia’s illegal and unjustified invasion, and its inhumane assault on civilians across Ukraine.

Yesterday, as President Zelenskyy set out to the G20 his 10 point plan for peace in Ukraine, Ukrainian civilians were facing the largest barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes since the first week of the war. We extend our condolences to the Ukrainian people and families of those injured in these attacks.

Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure have left millions without electricity, heating, water, medicine and food as temperatures start to drop below zero.

And more than that, we’ve heard today from the UN detailed reports of civilian deaths, sexual violence, and forced deportation of children. Russia is knowingly trying to gain military advantage by creating desperation. Attacks of this kind may violate International Humanitarian Law and are in any event, deeply inhumane.

President, on Monday the General Assembly adopted a resolution on an international mechanism for reparations for damage, loss and injury arising from Russia’s internationally wrongful acts against Ukraine. This was an important first step towards justice for Ukraine.

President, we are in no doubt that Ukraine will prevail in the face of Russia’s aggression. The liberation of Kherson shows the strength, courage and determination of the Ukrainian people to defend their right to sovereign equality and territorial integrity guaranteed under the UN Charter.

The UK will continue to stand by the Ukrainian people.

While the war is ongoing, we must continue also to manage its wider effects as best we can. That is why we strongly support the Black Sea Green Initiative. It has been vital in helping alleviate the serious risks of food insecurity in the world, and we strongly support the UN in the efforts to renew it.

President, fundamentally, this war is the result of unilateral action on the part of the Russian Federation. The path forward is therefore simple: Russia needs to cease hostilities, withdraw from within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders, and commit to a path of dialogue.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2022.

Today at COP27 on Solutions Day, the UK COP26 Presidency will convene Ministers and senior representatives to accelerate the transition to Zero Emission Vehicles by:

Launching the new Accelerating To Zero Coalition – a platform for leading initiatives to work together to deliver a Paris-aligned Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) transition globally.

Announcing a total of 214 ZEV Declaration signatories, committing them to a global all-ZEV sales target by 2040, and 2035 in leading markets, including new signatories France and Spain.

Launching a support package for emerging markets and developing economy (EMDE) countries, backed through a Global Commitment by donor countries including the UK, US, Germany and Japan.

At COP26 the UK and partners launched a “Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration” to accelerate the transition to all new cars and vans being zero emission by 2035 at the latest in leading markets, and 2040 globally, in line with Paris Agreement climate goals. The Declaration now has over 210 signatories (up from 130 at COP26) – from national and sub-national governments, to manufacturers, businesses and fleet owners. New signatories include France, Spain, Abou Ghaly Motors, and Vikram Solar.

The impact of the ZEV Declaration is already being realised. BloombergNEF’s newly published ZEV Factbook shows that 2022 is set to be a record year for ZEV sales, with electric vehicles comprising 13.2% of all new vehicles sold in the first half of 2022. This will speed up the move away from fossil fuels, with the expected adoption of electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles avoiding almost 1.7 million barrels of oil use per day in 2022, about 3.8% of total demand.

As a further sign of momentum for the growing ZEV transition, today the Accelerating to Zero Coalition (A2Z) will be launched, which will host the ZEV declaration from COP27 onwards. The A2Z Coalition is a partnership between the UK, the UN High Level Action Champions team, the Climate Group, the International Council on Clean Transportation and the Drive Electric Campaign, who will work together to promote a faster global ZEV transition and help signatories implement those commitments by providing bespoke workshops, assistance and access to a international community of best practice.

Alok Sharma, COP26 President, said:

“The ZEV declaration signed at COP26 was a major milestone bringing together leading actors to accelerate the transition to 100 percent new car sales being zero emission by 2040, and 2035 in leading markets.”

“There are still huge opportunities in emerging markets and developing economies which is why I’m pleased to formally launch the Accelerating To Zero Coalition today. This coalition provides the platform for countries to go further and faster and to ensure that no country is left behind.”

Together with partner countries and organisations, the UK COP26 Presidency will today launch a new support package for EMDE countries – part of international efforts to ensure a truly global transition to ZEVs. This support package includes:

A Global Commitment – signed by the US, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden and the UK – outlining collective ambition to mobilise more assistance and align existing funds to support ZEV transitions in EMDE countries this decade.

A ZEV Country Partnership with India – signed with the UK and US – to provide tailored and impactful support that helps India deliver their ambitious ZEV commitments.

A scalable ZEV Rapid Response Facility (ZEV-RRF) to address the short-term, urgent technical assistance needs of EMDE governments, helping unlock larger scale projects and funding for their ZEV transitions.

A US-led ZEV Emerging Markets Initiative – in partnership with the UK Government and World Business Council for Sustainable Development – to foster dialogues between EMDE governments and major international companies to help scale up investment for countries’ transitions.

The first tranche of the World Bank’s Global Facility to Decarbonise Transport projects will also launch at COP27, facilitated by UK funding announced at COP26. This includes projects to support electrification of transport in countries, such as India and Ghana, as well as wider regions through its new Regional Financing Facility to Decarbonise Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Also on Solutions Day, the UK-USA-co-chaired Zero Emission Vehicles Transition Council (ZEVTC) will launch its new yearly Action Plan, setting out its priorities for 2023. This includes infrastructure, the role of fleets in the ZEV transition, fair consumer access and supporting a more equitable transition as priority areas of discussion and collaboration between members in the coming year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2022.

Statement delivered at the UN Third Committee adoption of a resolution on human rights in Syria.

Thank you very much Mr Chair.

The United Kingdom strongly reiterates its support for this resolution and welcomes other co-sponsors. This language sets out the international community’s shared concerns and urges Syria to improve its appalling human rights record.

15 March 2022 saw the 11th anniversary of the conflict in Syria, marking over a decade of atrocities in Syria. The UK condemns these acts and strongly supports efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity to account.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the situation over the past 12 months. The Syrian regime continues to commit crimes against humanity, war crimes, and human rights violations against the Syrian people, including the use of sexual violence, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and torture.

Tens of thousands of Syrians have been forcibly disappeared and detained during the conflict. Thousands of families wait to hear about loved ones. It is crucial that Syrians receive information about these disappeared persons, and that efforts are increased to deliver answers and accountability for victims of the regime. The regime must provide answers.

The humanitarian situation has worsened dramatically since cross-border access was reduced. An estimated 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance and approximately 12 million people face acute food insecurity. It is vital that life-saving cross-border access continues, particularly in the harsh winter months, and with a Cholera outbreak spreading in the region.

The UK also defends the use of country-specific resolutions in the Third Committee. The Committee’s remit focuses on the examination of “human rights issues that affect people all over the world”. Such resolutions are only tabled for the most serious or prevalent violators.

The Syrian people must not be forgotten and must not be left to resolve this crisis alone. Through the adoption of this resolution, the international community can hold the Syrian regime to account and help ensure it fully complies with its international legal and human rights obligations. Therefore, we would urge all states to vote for this resolution.

Thank you.

The press release issued by Foreign Office on 16 November 2022.

Statement delivered at the UN Third Committee adoption of a resolution on human rights in Iran.

Thank you Mr Chair.

The United Kingdom wishes to thank Canada for bringing forward this timely resolution.

In recent months, the human rights situation in Iran has continued to deteriorate. Two months ago, we witnessed the tragic death of Mahsa Amini: a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran. We deplore the violent suppression of women’s rights, and enforcement of the mandatory hijab and chastity law by Iran’s so-called Morality Police.

We also find Iran’s response to the protests movement that followed Mahsa’s death truly abhorrent. Over 326 Iranians have lost their lives and over 14,000 have been arrested. The death sentence announced last week, for a protestor, signifies a shocking worsening of the situation.

It is for these reasons that we welcome Germany and Iceland’s efforts to call a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 24 November, which we hope will mandate a robust investigation into protest-related human rights violations in Iran.

Sadly, such repression remains systematic in Iran. In the first six months of 2022, Iran executed at least 251 people. The UN also called out Iran for executing a juvenile offender in November 2021.

The UK supports the essential work of the Special Rapporteur in shining a spotlight on Iran’s human rights violations. We welcome his efforts to expose the systematic repression of minority groups, as well as continued restrictions on media freedom and internet access.

Mr Chair, the Iranian people have suffered enough. It is time their fundamental freedoms were upheld, including the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and speech both online and offline. Iran’s leaders must choose another path. Now is the time to stop blaming external actors, to hold up the mirror and start listening to the voices of their people. Yet Iran continues to suppress the voices of civil society, and report of Member States attempting to block NGO access to the room today are a further concern. The UK encourages all Member States to now join us in voting yes on this resolution.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2022.

Statement delivered at the UN Third Committee adoption of a resolution on human rights in Crimea.

Thank you Mr. Chair.

The United Kingdom reiterates its support for this resolution and welcomes the significant number of co-sponsoring states.

This year, we have looked on in horror as Putin launched his unprovoked, illegal war, bringing untold suffering to the innocent people of Ukraine. But we are acutely aware that for people in Crimea, this story began eight years ago, in 2014.

Since then, they have endured a brutal and systematic campaign of human rights violations and abuses at the hands of the Russian authorities: arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, and unjustifiable restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of movement, expression and religion or belief. Many of these measures have been disproportionately targeted at ethnic and religious minorities, in particular Crimean Tatars.

Since Russia’s invasion this February, the human rights situation in Crimea has only further deteriorated. This resolution highlights that Crimea has become both a base from which to launch attacks on the rest of Ukraine, and a blueprint for further Russian human rights abuses in Ukrainian territory. We condemn the conscription and mobilisation of Ukrainian civilians in Crimea into Russia’s Armed forces, and the forced imposition of Russian legislation further limiting freedom of expression, including the freedom to speak out against Russia’s brutal war.

And we regret that – despite this Committee’s repeated requests – Russia continues to deny access for international monitoring missions to Crimea and other regions of Ukraine under its temporary control.

Russia will undoubtedly accuse us of politicising this Committee. But the UK strongly defends the use of country-specific resolutions, which complement the work of the Human Rights Council and other fora in providing scrutiny of adherence to human rights obligations.
Indeed, on 4 November this year, this Committee adopted a resolution that noted with alarm that Russia has sought to justify its territorial aggression against Ukraine on the purported basis of eliminating neo-Nazism.

By failing to make even the weakest case against this language, Russia tacitly acknowledged what we all know: It has no justification for its aggression against Ukraine

Adoption of this resolution today will underline the international community’s support for Ukraine in their fight against that aggression, and their resolve to maintain pressure on Russia to bring an end to its systematic abuse of human rights in Ukraine.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2022.

Statement delivered at the UN Third Committee adoption of a resolution on human rights in Myanmar.

Thank you Mr Chair.

The United Kingdom reiterates our support for this resolution, which we are grateful to the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for tabling.

The military coup continues to bring acute suffering to the people of Myanmar. The country is plunging ever deeper into political, economic and humanitarian crises. This resolution rightly highlights the continued deterioration of human rights, including for the Rohingya and other minorities.

We strongly condemn the military’s campaign of human rights violations, including credible reports of torture, burning of villages, indiscriminate airstrikes and mass killings. The military’s use of sexual violence to terrorise vulnerable populations is of further abhorrence. Over 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine state, where they continue to face systemic discrimination; and are denied their citizenship rights and access to education and healthcare. All human rights violations must end immediately.

Whilst strongly supportive of this resolution, we would like to have seen more language around the role of international arms flows, which facilitate the most egregious human rights violations in Myanmar. The UK has a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar, and we are strongly urging of Member States in halting the flow of arms to the military regime.

We continue to stand with the people of Myanmar, and for an immediate end to violence and a return to democracy.