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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK ramps up vital life-saving support for Libya [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK ramps up vital life-saving support for Libya [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 September 2023.

    The UK has ramped up crucial life-saving support to flood-hit Libya, allocating increased funding and deploying an essential emergency medical team.

    • new UK funding to support response to devastating floods in Libya
    • UK to deliver life-saving provisions including emergency shelter, solar lanterns, and water filters to disaster-affected areas
    • Emergency Medical Team to be deployed to carry out rapid medical assessments on the ground

    The UK has ramped up crucial life-saving support to flood-hit Libya, allocating increased funding and deploying an essential emergency medical team.

    This additional support builds upon the initial package worth up to £1 million announced earlier this week (13 September), which will be used to provide vital provisions including emergency shelter items, portable solar lanterns and water filters.

    The UK is also deploying an emergency medical team led by health and sanitation experts from NGO UK-MED to conduct rapid medical assessments in disaster-affected areas. The Emergency Medical Team will coordinate with local authorities, international organisations and other EMT partners on the ground to understand the immediate and growing humanitarian health needs in Libya following the devastating storms.

    The UK has increased its financial support to the response to both the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco, allocating a package worth up to £10 million.

    Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Lord Ahmad said:

    It is harrowing to see the loss of life and scenes of devastation in Libya following the floods.

    The UK is committed to supporting the Libyan people during this extremely difficult time. We will increase UK funding to the crisis response and deliver crucial life-saving provisions, including shelter, water filters and medical assessments.

    Earlier this week (13 September), the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, spoke with the Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Mnefi, to convey his condolences and the UK’s commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy. Lord Ahmad also spoke to Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN, Martin Griffiths, to discuss the international response to the crises in Morocco and Libya.

    The UN has announced $10 million in response to the flooding from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to which the UK is one of the largest donors. The UK has committed £52 million towards the UNCERF’s vital work in 2023.

    The UK is working with trusted partners on the ground to identify the most urgent basic needs, including on shelter, healthcare and sanitation and stands ready to provide further support.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls on South Sudan’s leaders to deliver the free and fair elections the South Sudanese people deserve – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls on South Sudan’s leaders to deliver the free and fair elections the South Sudanese people deserve – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on South Sudan.

    Thank you President.  Thank you also to SRSG Haysom, ASG Msuya and Ms Juan for their briefings today.

    This September marks five years since the South Sudanese parties came together to sign the Peace Agreement.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the progress achieved since then, and that disputes are now largely resolved through political dialogue, not conflict.

    But we remain concerned that progress is too slow and too limited.  The past five years have been characterised by missed deadlines and multiple extensions.

    So, we call on South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate the political will to deliver the free and fair elections that the South Sudanese people deserve.

    President, the United Kingdom welcomes the recent establishment of an Election Security Committee and the presentation of the National Elections Act to Parliament.

    But as highlighted by SRSG Haysom, in addition to adopting the necessary legislation and reconstituting the relevant electoral bodies, there are fundamental decisions and logistical preparations that require urgent attention.

    We call on the South Sudanese authorities to create the necessary political and civic space to allow for free and credible elections.

    President, as the horrifying violence continues across the border in Sudan, over 260,000 people have now been registered arriving into South Sudan.  This comes on top of what were already unprecedented levels of humanitarian need in South Sudan.

    The United Kingdom commends the Government of South Sudan’s provision of transportation and the UN system and humanitarian partners in their response to the crisis.

    We urge the South Sudanese government to create a more enabling environment for humanitarian action, and commit itself to longer-term, more durable solutions that address the increasing humanitarian need.

    In closing, at this important time in South Sudan’s history we urge  South Sudan’s leadership to deliver on the outstanding tasks to make democratic elections a reality.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to ban ‘American XL Bully’ [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to ban ‘American XL Bully’ [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 September 2023.

    The Government has announced today that ‘American XL Bully’ dogs will be banned.

    ‘American XL Bully’ dogs will be banned following a series of horrific attacks, the Government has announced today (15 September).

    On the back of a number of shocking ‘American XL Bully’ attacks, the Environment Secretary will urgently convene experts to define the ‘American XL bully’ breed type in the next week.

    This is a vital first step towards adding it to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

    This group will include police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare stakeholders.

    Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said:

    Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families and it is clear that more now needs to be done to stop them and protect the public. That is why we are taking decisive action to ban the American XL Bully.

    This is on top of the work the Government has been doing for some time with the police and local authorities to encourage responsible dog ownership and make sure the full force of the law is being applied.

    Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, a definition of the ‘American XL Bully’ breed type needs to be specified – including clear assessment criteria for enforcement authorities – in order to impose a ban. The Government must then lay a Statutory Instrument to add it to the list of dogs banned under the Act. This will make it an offence to own, breed, gift or sell an XL bully. We will do this by the end of the year.

    We need to safely manage the existing population of these dogs, therefore there will be a transition period. Further details on how the transition period will work will be provided in due course. Current XL Bully dog owners do not need to take any action at this stage however, if XL Bully owners do not come forward during the transition period, they will be committing a criminal offence if they are subsequently found to be keeping one of these dogs.

    Owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control are already breaking the law, and we already have a full range of powers to apply penalties to them. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership or their dangerous dogs can be euthanised.

    Further detail on next steps for developing a ban and information for owners will be provided in due course.

  • PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS Partners update the IAEA Board on naval nuclear propulsion [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS Partners update the IAEA Board on naval nuclear propulsion [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

    The United Kingdom, Australia and the United States updated the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on AUKUS naval nuclear propulsion.

    The below statement was delivered by Australia on 14 September 2023 under agenda item 12: Any Other Business.

    Thank you, Chair.

    I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Chair,

    We thank Director General Grossi for his update in his written introductory statement to this Board on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program. As the Director General noted, bilateral technical consultations between the IAEA and Australia on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program are ongoing, including in relation to the development of an Article 14 arrangement. We remain fully committed to ensuring our approach meets the highest non-proliferation standard.

    Chair,

    Colleagues will recall that, at the previous meeting of the Board, the Director General reported (in GOV/INF/2023/10) that Australia had submitted the required declarations under its CSA, AP, and Subsidiary Arrangements; the IAEA had conducted in-field verification activities, including a design information verification visit; and discussions on the technical aspects of an arrangement pursuant to Article 14 of Australia’s CSA had been initiated.

    Chair,

    The Director General has confirmed the IAEA will develop a robust safeguards approach for Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program which will enable the Agency to continue to meet its technical safeguards objectives established for Australia.

    Since the June Board meeting, Australia’s bilateral technical consultations with the IAEA have continued. These discussions encompass technical and legal aspects of an Article 14 arrangement for Australia, including in relation to possible verification and monitoring activities and voluntary transparency measures.

    As has been confirmed by the Director General, these ongoing bilateral consultations are taking place on the basis that Australia’s Article 14 arrangement will not remove nuclear material from IAEA oversight.

    Throughout the lifecycle of Australia’s program, the Agency will be able to continue to verify and conclude that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material, no misuse of facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities.

    Chair,

    We wish to make clear that, contrary to what some delegations have suggested, we do not seek to impose a template or model Article 14 arrangement. When developing an Article 14 arrangement for Australia or another state, the Agency will need to account for state-specific factors.

    The Director General has committed to transmitting the Article 14 arrangement, once developed, to the Board for appropriate action. As we have said previously, we fully support this approach.

    Chair,

    AUKUS partners have already addressed during this Board meeting some of the more egregious disinformation we have heard from other delegations, and I do not intend to go over that again.

    In line with our abiding commitment to transparency, however, we welcome the opportunity to update the Board and, as appropriate, we will continue to address genuine questions from interested delegations regarding our non-proliferation approach through this and other fora.

    Thank you, Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement by AUKUS partners to the IAEA Board of Governors [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement by AUKUS partners to the IAEA Board of Governors [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

    UK Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Corinne Kitsell, gave a statement on behalf of Australia, the UK and the US on AUKUS.

    The below statement was made on 14 September 2023 under agenda item 9: Transfer of the nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT.

    Chair,

    I take the floor on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to respond to comments made regarding Australia’s acquisition of naval nuclear propulsion technology.

    In response to the inclusion of this politically motivated and unnecessary agenda item, we refer Board members to our note verbale dated the 7th of September. In order to support the Board’s efforts to dedicate its limited time to address genuinely pressing issues, we have not taken procedural action against the addition of this agenda item in meetings of the Board. But to be clear, in common with many other Board members, that does not mean we support it.

    As we have done at previous Board meetings, an update will be provided on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion programme under Any Other Business. We had intended to provide only a short reply under this item. However, due to the serious nature of some of the misleading assertions we have heard here today, as well as having been circulated in a recent nonpaper, it is important that we directly address some of the more egregious claims.

    We recognise that there are genuine questions amongst Member States regarding naval nuclear propulsion in Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement (CSA) states. We will continue to engage in good faith with states, consistent with our approach to maintaining open and transparent engagement.

    Unfortunately, attempts at genuine discussion of this issue continue to be subject to ever-evolving attempts designed to sow mistrust in the Agency or undermine its independent mandate. We have now seen several iterations of political manoeuvring by certain states to misrepresent the AUKUS partners’ responsible and transparent approach to implementing their safeguards obligations. We have heard many differing and often self-contradictory arguments in this effort. Many of these arguments have been abandoned by their proponents when it became clear they carried no weight or did not reflect reality, only to be replaced by new disinformation.

    Chair,

    The Director General has been clear that the Agency already has ‘the necessary experience to develop the arrangements related to the use of nuclear material for naval nuclear propulsion in accordance with the Statute and relevant safeguards agreements’. Australia’s nuclear fuel cycle will remain under IAEA oversight, in accordance with the provisions in Australia’s CSA and AP, throughout the lifecycle of Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program. The Director General has confirmed that it will be necessary for Australia’s Article 14 arrangement to allow the Agency to continue to fulfil its technical safeguards objectives. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States remain fully committed to ensuring the IAEA is able to fulfil its mandate.

    Chair,

    Contrary to the disinformation being perpetuated by some member states, the Director General has also confirmed that – for any CSA state acquiring naval nuclear propulsion technology – he will transmit an Article 14 arrangement to the Board for ‘appropriate action’.

    As with the implementation of other provisions of states’ CSAs, the practical arrangements to be applied in Australia under Article 14 are the subject of bilateral in-confidence negotiations between Australia and the IAEA. Once negotiated, the arrangement will be brought to the Board. This is entirely consistent with the exchange of letters between Australia and the Director General in 1978. To suggest that the Board will be bypassed is false. We do not accept attacks on the mandate, independence, expertise or professionalism of the Director General and the Secretariat.

    It is deeply concerning that some states are calling into question the ability of the Director General to perform the functions vested in him by the Statute and by decisions of the Board. The politicisation by some states of this technical issue risks undermining the independence of the Agency – the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime. As stated by the Director General this is part of the legal framework set out in the CSAs concluded on the basis of INFCIRC/153, which the Board has authorized the Director General to conclude and implement. We have full confidence in the Director General that he will continue to fulfil his mandate with professionalism and integrity.

    Chair,

    Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States continue to oppose proposals for a standing agenda item, a new ‘intergovernmental’ or other parallel process, or any effort that would undermine and politicize the independent technical mandate of the IAEA. We do not accept politically motivated attempts to disrupt the Agency’s implementation of safeguards agreements. We reject any suggestion that the Agency does not have a mandate to engage bilaterally with Member States on issues relevant to the implementation of safeguards.

    All states rely on the rights – and obligations – enshrined in safeguards agreements to engage bilaterally and in confidence with the Agency. To impose new limits or conditions on this right would threaten Member States’ confidence in the Agency’s ability to implement its safeguards mandate and could risk relegating the Agency’s implementation of safeguards to a secondary position. This is completely inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the legal framework and would threaten to send us down a dangerous path.

    Chair,

    We welcomed the Director General’s decision to report to the June 2023 Board meeting on developments related to Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion programme, as well as his separate report on Brazil’s naval nuclear propulsion programme. The Director General has confirmed he will continue to provide reports on naval nuclear propulsion programmes as appropriate, and we support his prerogative in this regard.

    We welcome constructive Board discussions on NNP on the basis of reports by the Director General, including under apolitical agenda items when there are substantive developments to discuss falling within the IAEA’s remit.

    Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States will continue to keep the Board updated on our ongoing engagement with the IAEA, including under Any Other Business at this meeting. We urge colleagues to reject deliberate efforts to disrupt the Agency’s independence and integrity.

    Thank you, Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : French couple jailed for smuggling children inside furniture [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : French couple jailed for smuggling children inside furniture [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 15 September 2023.

    A French couple have been jailed for almost 10 years after they trapped Vietnamese migrants, including children, inside sofas to smuggle them into the UK.

    Junior Toussaint and Andrene Paul, both from near Paris, were sentenced to a combined 9 years and 11 months at Hove Crown Court today after pleading guilty to assisting unlawful migration to the UK.

    The pair had worked together as delivery drivers in France and used furniture to hide a Vietnamese woman and three children in the back of a hire van.

    They had travelled from Dieppe to Newhaven Port in the early hours of 2 April this year.

    Border Force officers became suspicious when they searched the van and saw movement from inside the adapted sofas, which were buried underneath a mattress and other furniture.

    Shocking images taken at the time of the search show two migrants packed inside with no means of escape without assistance from the smugglers.

    Others were hidden among other fixtures including a chest of drawers. One migrant was found crushed underneath a settee.

    Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

    This case is another shocking example of the sickening tactics used by criminals who will think nothing of trapping women and children in appalling conditions to illegally enter our country.

    We are working night and day to stay one step ahead of the smuggling gangs and ensure they are swiftly brought to justice.

    And our landmark Illegal Migration Act will decisively break their business model by removing the incentive to make a dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journey from the safety of France.

    The defendants told officers they had no knowledge of the migrants’ presence in their van and had been driving it to help with furniture removal in London.

    Fingerprint checks carried out by Border Force later proved Toussaint’s involvement in the smuggling attempt. He pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration.

    Paul, who had also denied her involvement, was found to have made a series of suspicious visits to the UK earlier in the year. She pleaded guilty when video evidence of her previous activity was shown in court.

    Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations at the Home Office, said:

    Criminals are going to increasingly extreme lengths to smuggle people across the UK border for profit due to our efforts to clamp down on them. This sentence today reflects the severity of their crimes.

    Our teams save lives by identifying and intervening in smuggling attempts like this one. I want to thank my officers who work tirelessly to investigate those responsible and ensure they face the full weight of the law.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Industry to have their say on increasing role of hydrogen in energy system [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Industry to have their say on increasing role of hydrogen in energy system [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 15 September 2023.

    Industry and consumer groups are invited to offer views on increasing the amount of hydrogen used in the UK’s gas network.

    • Industry and consumer groups to offer views on new hydrogen technology
    • following consultation, hydrogen blended into current gas networks could increase by up to 20%
    • forms part of government efforts to grow the economy and support the future hydrogen market

    The government has, today (Friday 15 September), invited views from industry and consumer groups on increasing the amount of hydrogen used in the UK’s gas network to fuel homes and businesses, in a move to help cut emissions, strengthen energy security and create new skilled jobs.

    Energy Minister Lord Callanan has launched a consultation on the UK pursuing a process of ‘blending’, to accelerate the creation of a new hydrogen industry.

    Hydrogen currently makes up around 0.1% of the gas used in people’s homes and businesses – but proposals could see the volume of hydrogen in the network increase gradually over time, up to a maximum of 20%.

    This blending of hydrogen with natural gas in the network could boost hydrogen production – which would in turn cut carbon emissions and strengthen energy security, helping to stabilise bills for families and businesses by making them less susceptible to volatile gas prices.

    The views from industry and consumer groups – combined with forthcoming advice from the Health and Safety Executive – will help inform next steps on the use of hydrogen, including through blending.

    Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said:

    We want to capture the full economic potential that comes with using hydrogen as a cleaner, reliable energy source – with the opportunity to create tens of thousands of new skilled jobs.

    Blending hydrogen into our gas supply – through existing gas infrastructure – would open the doors to an expansion of its use as a fuel, one which could help us cut emissions and stabilise bills for families and businesses.

    The consultation launched today marks the next step in government’s plans to reach 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030 – creating over 12,000 new jobs and putting the UK at the forefront of the growing hydrogen market.

    Already the government has committed to support the design of business models that will help early projects develop new technology – so hydrogen can be used as a cleaner home-grown energy source that will help stabilise bills for customers.

    The energy sector, consumer groups and wider industry have until 27 October 2023 to submit their views to the government’s consultation on ‘Hydrogen Blending into GB gas distribution networks’. The feedback will help inform government’s decision on whether to proceed with blending.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We must deliver justice for survivors of Daesh’s atrocities [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : We must deliver justice for survivors of Daesh’s atrocities [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

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

    We recall that the horrific atrocities committed by Daesh shocked the world. This Council was clear in its response: Daesh members had to be held to account, and justice delivered for the survivors and victims of their crimes.

    This is why Iraq and the UK were at the helm of establishing UNITAD through Resolution 2379 in 2017.

    Since it was established, UNITAD has supported the excavation of mass graves and facilitated the return of remains to the families of victims. It has worked closely with Iraqi judges and prosecutors to build their capacity, in particular on evidence collection. It has provided survivors, including of sexual and gender-based violence, with opportunities to provide testimony safely with their rights fully respected, testimonies that have been used in the prosecution of Daesh members around the world. And it has enabled psychosocial treatment in partnership with Iraq’s Ministry of Health, providing real impact for survivors.

    This year, as with every year, we approached this mandate in close partnership with the Government of Iraq, and with the shared commitment of Security Council members to counter terrorism.

    The resolution we have adopted this morning puts us on a course to improve evidence sharing arrangements with the Government of Iraq, and to consider options for UNITAD’s future.

    The UK will work closely with the Government of Iraq, the United Nations, and the Security Council to continue UNITAD’s legacy, both in Iraq and around the world. We are grateful to the Special Adviser and his Team for their dedicated work in pursuit of accountability. And we stand firm in our continued international efforts to deliver justice for Daesh’s atrocities.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK joins top Gulf commerce ministers for trade talks in Oman [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK joins top Gulf commerce ministers for trade talks in Oman [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 September 2023.

    Minister Huddleston visits Oman to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Commerce Ministers’ summit.

    • Nigel Huddleston to become the first UK Minister to attend Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Commerce Ministers’ summit.
    • UK and GCC in talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which could increase trade by 16%.
    • Huddleston to use summit to discuss the FTA and help further trading relationship worth over £65 billion.

    Nigel Huddleston, UK Minister for International Trade, is in Oman today [13 September] to hold talks with top trade ministers from across the Gulf region.

    This is the first time a UK Minister has been invited in this capacity to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Commerce Ministers’ summit – part of a regular series attended by commerce ministers from all six GCC countries. The summit comes a year after the first round of talks on a UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement.

    UK Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston said:

    We already have powerful trade ties with the GCC, and I am pleased to be able to take this chance to further improve our relationship.

    We want a modern, comprehensive, and ambitious free trade deal that will promote innovation, encourage investment, and help develop the industries of the future.

    “There’s a great prize on offer here – the potential for what we can achieve together in the years and decades to come is huge.”

    The GCC is one the UK’s most important trading partners, with trade growing to £65.2 billion in 2022 – an increase of over 75% in current prices. Previous Government analysis shows that, in the long run, a deal with the GCC is expected to increase trade by 16%.

    A deal could increase UK businesses’ access to booming markets in the Gulf and will also make it easier for people across the GCC to access UK expertise in areas including life sciences, artificial intelligence and renewables.

    During the visit, the Minister will also tour the Port of Salalah, the biggest port in Oman, ranked the second most efficient container port in the world in 2021.

    Oliver Christian, the government’s new Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, will join Minister Huddleston for discussions.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Day of Democracy 2023 – Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, joint statement [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Day of Democracy 2023 – Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, joint statement [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

    Members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse gave a statement on women’s and girls’ rights to participate in public life.

    Today, on International Day of Democracy 2023, the undersigned country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse call attention to the pressing need to protect and promote women’s and girls’ right to participate in public life.

    This is a pivotal year for the status of democracy globally with more than 100 countries scheduled to hold elections in the coming year. The active participation of all people, including women and girls in all their diversity, is essential for healthy and prosperous democracies. Yet women and girls engaged in public life are increasingly targeted by online threats and attacks, with insufficient avenues for response and redress. A global study* found that the majority of women parliamentarians surveyed had experienced psychological violence, primarily through social media, including threats of death, sexual violence, beatings or abductions. Some women face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on the basis of age, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

    Online threats to women and girls in public life have proliferated with the increased adoption of digital technologies and are likely to continue to grow with new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, which has led to the rise of malicious deepfakes, non-consensual pornography, reinforced stereotyping and bias, and other harms. Multiple forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence have been shown to prompt women’s self-censorship and disengagement from the public sphere and can occur alongside offline intimidation and violence.

    This undermines women’s ability to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. Orchestrated, digital attacks deliberately use misogyny and disinformation to discredit, intimidate and silence women politicians, journalists, and activists. In addition to harming individual targets, these attacks are an affront to democracies globally. They should therefore be prioritised as an urgent concern given the serious threat they pose to inclusive, open societies. All people – including women and girls in all their diversity – should be able to speak out and actively participate in the public sphere without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence. We must prevent and address technology-facilitated gender-based violence to safeguard the very well-being of our democracies and economies.

    We call upon states to join us in recognising the threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence to democracies globally. We urge states and technology companies to take appropriate action to prevent and respond to this threat, support a Safety by Design approach to the development and deployment of platforms and technologies and defend women’s right to participate in public life freely, safely and without fear.

    Co-signatories and sponsoring country members of the Global Partnership:

    Australia: Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland; Chile; Denmark: Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen; Iceland: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir; New Zealand: Minister for Women, Hon Jan Tinetti; Republic of Korea: Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oh Youngju; Sweden: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström; United Kingdom: Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon; United States of America.

    *Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (2016). Sexism, harassment and violence against women parliamentarians. Geneva. Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: Preliminary Landscape Analysis (publishing.service.gov.uk) (PDF, 2.44MB) p.32