Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2023.

UK and allies have sanctioned human rights abusers 75 years after Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• UK, US and Canada lead coordinated action against human rights abusers and accessories to authoritarian governments around the world, 75 years after Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified
• UK targets forced labour operations in Southeast Asia, and government-linked officials in Belarus, Haiti, Iran, and Syria complicit in repressing individual freedoms
• these sanctions underline the UK’s continued commitment to deterring malign activity around the world

The UK, US and Canada are today announcing a sweeping package of sanctions targeting individuals linked to human rights abuses around the world, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December.

Today the UK is announcing 46 sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, in 2 categories.

The first set targets 9 individuals and 5 entities for their involvement in trafficking people in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, forcing them to work for online ‘scam farms’ which enable large-scale fraud. Victims are promised well-paid jobs but are subject to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The UN estimates at least 120,000 people in Myanmar alone are being forced to work for such schemes. The FCDO has helped a small number of British nationals return to the UK who had become victims.

The second is aimed at a number of individuals linked to the governments, judiciaries and prosecuting authorities of Belarus, Haiti, Iran, and Syria, for their involvement in the repression of citizens solely for exercising fundamental freedoms in those countries. This includes:

• 17 members of the Belarusian judiciary including judges, prosecutors and an investigator involved in politically-motivated cases against political activists, independent journalists and human rights defenders
• 5 individuals in the Iranian judiciary, security forces and Tehran public transport system for their involvement in imposing and enforcing the mandatory hijab law
• 8 individuals for complicity in atrocities against the Syrian people by Assad’s regime and
• 2 individuals in Haiti for their involvement in the 2018 La Saline attacks

The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:

We will not tolerate criminals and repressive regimes trampling on the fundamental rights and freedoms of ordinary people around the world.

I am clear that 75 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UK and our allies will continue to relentlessly pursue those who would deny people their freedom.

The Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK is actively rooting out all facilitators of large-scale fraud, both nationally and internationally, to protect public welfare.

Today’s announcement sends a clear warning: anyone attempting to gain from human rights abuses will be brought to justice.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2023.

The UK government and European Commission gave a joint statement following the 13th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights.

Joint statement from the UK government and European Commission following the thirteenth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights on 4 December 2023:

The 13th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights was held on 4 December 2023 in London, co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and the European Commission. A number of representatives from EU Member States were also in attendance. The Committee was established by the Withdrawal Agreement to monitor the implementation and application of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Agreement, which protects EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, and their eligible family members.

The UK and the EU discussed the implementation and application of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement. The meeting also allowed both sides to take stock of outstanding issues, as well as progress made. Both parties agreed that the Specialised Committee should focus on the most serious implementation concerns which have not been possible to resolve at a technical level.

The UK raised concerns around equal treatment and the inability of UK nationals in several EU Member States to purchase property on an equal basis to EU nationals, welcoming recent steps taken by some Member States to resolve this issue and encouraging others to do the same. Whilst welcoming the usefulness of the European Commission’s annual report, the UK suggested more consistent data be provided on the operation of the residency schemes in some Member States.

The UK highlighted their ongoing concern for those UK nationals who are unable to access their rights due to the fact that they cannot evidence their declaratory right of permanent residence due to challenges obtaining the right residency card. Family reunification was also discussed, with the lack of available guidance on free visas for joining family members arriving from outside the UK and how joining family members can evidence their status being primary concerns. The EU set out a number of positive steps being taken by Member States and the Commission to provide additional information for joining family members.

The EU discussed the implementation of the UK High Court’s ruling on the upgrade from pre-settled status to settled status within the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme and expressed ongoing concerns about the UK Government’s current plans for implementing the judicial review. The EU nevertheless welcomed the reassurances received so far and the willingness of the UK’s competent authorities to engage collaboratively to seek practical solutions. The 2 sides agreed that correct implementation is crucial for the beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, reiterating their determination to work jointly and constructively on these topics. All beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement need to fully enjoy their rights through the implementation of the Agreement, including as regards their permanent right of residence.

The EU reiterated their concerns regarding EU citizens in the UK who received a refusal decision on their application between 27 June 2021 and 19 April 2022 but whose digital status did not accurately reflect this until 18 January 2023, due to the operation of the EU Settlement Scheme. The EU enquired about the UK’s plans to communicate with EU citizens affected by recovery of costs of some services and benefits, requesting transparency as to the cause for the overpayment. The EU also raised the lack of legal clarity for EU citizens, who hold a new UK residence status, as to whether their rights are guaranteed by the Withdrawal Agreement or solely by domestic law, with the UK providing reassurance that within the scope of Part 2 of the Withdrawal Agreement, they will continue to treat those who derive their EUSS status from domestic law equally. Joint statement following the thirteenth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights

The UK’s Independent Monitoring Authority, established under Article 159 (1) of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the European Commission presented their respective Annual Reports for 2022, adopted in accordance with Article 159 (2) of the Withdrawal Agreement.

A part of the meeting was dedicated to engagement with external representatives from civil society organisations, representing EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU, who asked questions about the implementation and application of Part 2 of the Withdrawal Agreement in the EU and the UK, in conformity with the rules of procedure of the Specialised Committee.

The UK and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to protecting citizens’ rights in accordance with the obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement and agreed to meet again in Spring 2024.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

Colleagues, these are dark days. The horror of the 7 October attacks hangs over us – including the shocking reports of sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli women and girls. And the terrible and heart-wrenching suffering of innocent Palestinians, including many women and young children, is a humanitarian tragedy unfolding before our eyes.

The Secretary-General, who has our strong support, set out clearly the trajectory towards humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians in Gaza. We need to respond, and to respond with urgency. The sheer scale of civilians killed is shocking and the fact that 80% of the population has been displaced in Gaza cannot continue.

The UK continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism as it seeks the return of over 100 hostages who are still held in Gaza. But we are absolutely clear that Israel must be targeted and precise in achieving that goal. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of the UK have delivered this message, and will continue to do so. Civilians must be protected.

In parallel, we need a marked increase in the provision of sustainable and unhindered delivery of life-saving aid and essential services to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe from taking place. This includes increasing the types of aid allowed. The sanitation and shelter picture, together with the lack of medical provision, in Gaza is dire and there is a desperate need for sanitation and shelter kits, and vital medicines.

It is welcome that Kerem Shalom will now be open for the screening of aid deliveries. We urge Israel to go further and to fully open Kerem Shalom to allow goods to cross, so that the huge volumes of aid that are needed can reach the people of Gaza. This should include at minimum the 200,000 litres of fuel per day for which the UN has called.

It is imperative that we work to agree further urgently needed humanitarian pauses, building on the pivotal work of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. President, as we work to halt the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, we need to also work to avoid escalation in the West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel’s announcement approving further settlements in the Lower Aqueduct area of East Jerusalem is alarming and serves only to raise the tensions in the West Bank when international effort is focusing on avoiding further conflict.

Let me be clear: settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability and delivery of a two-state solution. This decision must be reversed with immediate effect. President, let us work together to deliver peace, dignity, and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

Thank you, President.

We are gravely concerned about the desperate situation in Gaza. The scale of civilian deaths and displacement in Gaza cannot continue. We welcomed the extended humanitarian pause last month and the release of hostages and humanitarian aid deliveries that took place during it. We call for further and longer pauses to get aid to Palestinians and allow space for further hostage releases.

But we cannot vote in favour of a resolution which does not condemn the atrocities Hamas committed against innocent Israeli civilians on the 7th of October. Calling for a ceasefire ignores the fact that Hamas has committed acts of terror and is still holding civilians hostage.

Israel needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas and it needs to do so in a manner that abides by international humanitarian law, so that such an attack can never be carried out again. And so that we can work meaningfully towards a two-state solution, which delivers statehood for the Palestinians, security for Israel, and peace for people on both sides.

That’s why we abstained on this resolution.

Thank you, President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Transnational Organised Crime.

Thank you, President, and thank you for calling this valuable, Open Debate. I also thank the Secretary-General and our other distinguished and thought-provoking briefers this morning.

The United Kingdom agrees with the Secretary-General that we can deepen cooperation to tackle the complex threat of Transnational Organised Crime and find global solutions to it.

The UK is pleased to be working with the Ecuadorian Government and with many other governments across the world in these efforts.

I would like to stress three points.

First, as we’ve heard, the impact of organised crime globally is significant. Organised criminal networks are exacerbating conflict, instability and the negative effect of climate change around the globe, taking advantage of geopolitical, economic and technological shifts.

Organised crime, corruption and illicit finance drain resources and undermine societies. Online threats including cybercrime, fraud and new technologies such as AI are exacerbating these risks.

Second, without the security that comes from effectively tackling Transnational Organised Crime, economic development, state-building and poverty reduction is really not possible. Crime and gender considerations should be incorporated into development and security approaches.

Traditional law enforcement should be combined with wider efforts to address the drivers of crime, for example, poor governance or poverty, to address the enablers of crime, for example, illicit finance or corruption, and to address the harms that crime produces, including by protecting victims and returning assets.

The United Kingdom is committed to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and the UNODC. We funded the development of an UNODC Organised Crime Strategy Toolkit to help Member States develop their own national organised crime strategies. We are pleased that many countries are using the toolkit.

Finally, President, we welcome the efforts by the UN and other organisations to adapt to the escalating challenges and better coordinate with wider security, development and economic work including alongside the private sector and civil society. The Council and the wider UN can provide further leadership on this and support its acceleration.

The United Kingdom fully supports both the Women and Youth, Peace and Security agendas to help build community resilience and reduce recruitment into organised crime groups.

President, in closing, thank you for this debate, and we remain committed to working together to fight and prevent Transnational Organised Crime.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2023.

The UK condemns Russia’s sustained attempts at political interference in the UK and globally.

• the KGB’s successor agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB) is behind sustained unsuccessful attempts to interfere in UK political processes
• targets include politicians, civil servants, journalists, NGOs and other civil society organisations
• in response, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sanctioned individuals involved in the group’s activity and summoned the Russian Ambassador

The UK and allies have today (December 7th) exposed a series of attempts by the Russian Intelligence Services to target high-profile individuals and entities through cyber operations. The UK Government judges that this was done with the intent to use information obtained to interfere in UK politics and democratic processes.

Centre 18, a unit within Russia’s Intelligence Services, the FSB, has been identified as being accountable for a range of cyber espionage operations targeting the UK.

The activity was in turn conducted by Star Blizzard; a group that the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – assesses is almost certainly subordinate to FSB Centre 18.

While some attacks resulted in documents being leaked, attempts to interfere with UK politics and democracy have not been successful.

Star Blizzard is also commonly known as Callisto Group, SEABORGIUM or COLDRIVER and is operated by FSB officers. The group has also selectively leaked and amplified the release of information in line with Russian confrontation goals, including to undermine trust in politics in the UK and likeminded states.

In particular, the UK has identified the FSB – through the activity conducted by Star Blizzard – as being involved in the following:

• targeting, including spear-phishing, of parliamentarians from multiple political parties, from at least 2015 through to this year.
• the hack of UK-US trade documents that were leaked ahead of the 2019 General Election – previously attributed to the Russian state via Written Ministerial Statement in 2020.
• the 2018 hack of the Institute for Statecraft, a UK thinktank whose work included initiatives to defend democracy against disinformation, and the more recent hack of its founder Christopher Donnelly, whose account was compromised from December 2021; in both instances documents were subsequently leaked.
• targeting of universities, journalists, public sector, non-government organisations and other civil society organisations, many of whom play a key role in UK democracy

Following a National Crime Agency investigation, the UK has today sanctioned two members of Star Blizzard for their involvement in the preparation of spear-phishing campaigns and associated activity that resulted in unauthorised access and exfiltration of sensitive data, which was intended to undermine UK organisations and more broadly, the UK government.

These sanctions have been delivered jointly with the US, and are the latest in our bilateral efforts to counter Russian malicious cyber activity that seeks to undermine our, and our allies’, integrity and prosperity. The US Department of Justice have concurrently unsealed indictments against the individuals designated today.

The individuals being designated in the UK and US are:

• Ruslan Aleksandrovich PERETYATKO, who is a Russian FSB intelligence officer and a member of Star Blizzard AKA the Callisto Group
• Andrey Stanislavovich KORINETS, AKA Alexey DOGUZHIEV, who is a member of Star Blizzard AKA the Callisto Group

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also summoned the Russian Ambassador to express the UK’s deep concern about Russia’s sustained attempts to use cyber to interfere in political and democratic processes in the UK and beyond.

In a statement to the House earlier today the Minister for Europe Leo Docherty emphasised that attempts to interfere with UK politics and democracy have not been successful. However, it is likely that Russia and other adversaries will continue to make attempts to use cyber means to interfere in UK politics. The NCSC alongside the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will today publish a cyber security advisory to inform network defenders of how to mitigate this activity, and NCSC will publish guidance for high-risk individuals whilst providing further information around support available.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

Russia’s attempts to interfere in UK politics are completely unacceptable and seek to threaten our democratic processes.

Despite their repeated efforts, they have failed.

In sanctioning those responsible and summoning the Russian Ambassador today, we are exposing their malign attempts at influence and shining a light on yet another example of how Russia chooses to operate on the global stage.

We will continue to work together with our allies to expose Russian covert cyber activity and hold Russia to account for its actions.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

As I warned earlier this year, state actors, and the ‘Wagner-style’ sub-state hackers they use to do their dirty work, will continue to target our public institutions and our democratic processes.

We will continue to call this activity out, to raise our defences, and to take action against the perpetrators.

Online is the new frontline. We are taking a whole of society approach to ensuring we have the robust systems and cutting-edge skills needed to resist these attempts to undermine our democracy.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

An attack against our democratic institutions is an attack on our most fundamental British values and freedoms. The UK will not tolerate foreign interference and through the National Security Act, we are making the UK a harder operating environment for those seeking to interfere in our democratic institutions.

The activity announced today is part of a broader pattern of malign cyber activity conducted by the Russian Intelligence Services across the globe. In recent years the UK and allies have exposed Russian Intelligence for their role in ViaSat, SolarWinds, and targeting of Critical National Infrastructure. In May, the NCSC alongside Five Eye partners exposed a sophisticated cyberespionage tool designed and used by Centre 16 of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for long-term intelligence collection on sensitive targets.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2023.

On behalf of the UK and Canada, Ambassador Neil Holland welcomes the ongoing work of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and urges him to continue this vital work.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I’m delivering this statement on behalf of the UK and Canada. Welcome, High Commissioner, dear Kairat, back to the Permanent Council. Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and for the extension of your appointment for a further 9 months. We thank you once again for your willingness to continue this important role at such a late stage. As we said during last week’s Ministerial Council, it’s regretful that this extension is shorter than ideal, but had to be accepted as an exceptional, temporary measure.

High Commissioner, thank you for updating us today on your report and for your address. We are grateful for the range of efforts undertaken by your Office, including your visits to, and dialogues with, many participating States. We support your mandate and your team’s work in promoting human rights for all, including those belonging to national minorities across the OSCE region. This is a crucial part of sustainable security, a vital aspect of conflict prevention and early warning, and a key element of peaceful resolution.

Your report sets out that Ukraine remains at the top of your agenda.  We welcome that and urge you to continue to prioritise this work. Civilians in Ukraine must be protected, including national minorities. Let us not forget that, at the same time as having to fight a war, Ukraine has made – and is making – progress on inclusivity and diversity. We echo your calls for a peaceful resolution to the war which must be in line with the principles of the UN Charter, and for the protection of all national minorities in the region. The best way to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all people in Ukraine including minorities, is for Russia to withdraw its troops from the whole of Ukraine.

Russia must respect international law, and that includes minority rights, outside of and inside Russia. Ethnic minorities within Russia have been disproportionately targeted by mobilisation.

Russia must cooperate and grant access to your team to areas temporarily under its control.

Russia must respect the rights of minority groups. And we deplore Russia’s attempts to undermine Ukrainian identity in the four oblasts it illegally claims to have annexed, as well as its targeting of Crimean Tatars in illegally annexed Crimea.

We appreciate your work across the OSCE region including in Albania, Moldova, Central Asia and Northern Europe, and the continued cooperation between participating States and your office. We welcome your assistance to Georgia, particularly in the face of continued Russian hybrid aggression.

We would particularly like to commend and draw attention to the following areas of your work:

• your support on multilingual education and with national minority youth.
• your thematic work including alongside ODIHR to address statelessness.
• the attention you have given to the intersectionality of gender and national minorities, and your acknowledgment that women with a minority background face unique and multiple challenges.
• women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of public life, including in peace and security.

And on this last area, we were pleased to hear that you continue to explore these issues including through research, discussions, and engagements. We would encourage further work in this area and look forward to hearing reports of future progress on this topic.

In conclusion, High Commissioner, we are strong supporters of your institution and your work. We wish you and your team all the best over the coming months. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland welcomes the address by the Personal Representatives, and underlines the UK’s commitment to defending freedom of religion or belief.

Rabbi Baker and Dr Polack, welcome back to the Permanent Council, and thank you for your statements.

The UK remains committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Protecting and promoting these freedoms is one of the UK’s longstanding human rights commitments, and is at the heart of our shared OSCE principles.

Hand-in-hand with any commitment to protecting freedom of religion or belief must come a commitment to tackling intolerance, discrimination, and hatred – not only on the basis of religion or belief, but in all of its repugnant forms. Our ‘Inclusive Britain’ action plan supports us in doing this through its three-pronged approach of boosting confidence in our institutions, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering greater belonging.

One of the greatest challenges we currently face on this front is the chilling and unprecedented rise in antisemitism that we are witnessing across the world. Sadly, hate crime has surged globally since the barbaric attacks against Israeli civilians by Hamas on 7 October. That one of the many terrible consequences of this attack has been a wave of antisemitism is baffling and deplorable.

The UK is clear: antisemitism is evil and has no place in our – or any – society. We stand with the Jewish community, and we will never waiver in our fight against the scourge of antisemitism. The UK Government is proud to have been the first country to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in 2016.

In tandem with our work to tackle antisemitism, the UK is committed to international co-operation to promote education, remembrance, and research about the Holocaust. As one of the founding signatories of the Stockholm Declaration, we pledged that the terrible events of the Holocaust would remain forever seared in our collective memory.

The UK has the privilege of taking on the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in March 2024. The theme of our presidency will be “In Plain Sight”, drawing attention to the fact that the Holocaust did not happen unseen. It will highlight the nature of society that allowed the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children, shine a spotlight on all of those who had a part to play, and explore the circumstances that led to the Holocaust.

We will focus on promoting remembrance of the Holocaust and safeguarding the narrative for future generations. In particular, we hope to reach thousands of young people across the IHRA’s member states during our presidency, and help them to learn and understand the truth about the terrible atrocities that took place in their hometowns.

We must also recognise and address the continued rise of Holocaust distortion and the impact of new technologies upon it. During our presidency and in cooperation with the OSCE, we will bring together a range of experts – from fields including AI and social media. We will explore how to tackle distortion, including how to counter the threats posed by deepfake technology and disinformation online.

As you have both made clear, the consequences of intolerance, discrimination and hatred are all too evident.  Our OSCE commitments provide us with the tools we need.  We must, together, tackle this scourge, and promote inclusive societies that respect freedom of religion or belief.

Thank you, Rabbi Baker and Dr Polack for being with us today and for all your work over the year.