Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – UK comment on Belarus resolution [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 July 2023.

UK statement on the human rights situation in Belarus. As delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr President,

We thank the EU for its leadership on this resolution. We are seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, which the Special Rapporteur recently called catastrophic.

The regime continues to target civilians, independent journalists, trade unions, and human rights defenders in its brutal ongoing crackdown on civil society. Through a broad policy of arrest and arbitrary detention the regime is holding almost 1,500 of its citizens as political prisoners, many of whom are subject to torture and cruel and degrading treatment. In recent months, many political prisoners have been starved of contact with the outside world, with no ability to speak with relatives or update on their condition. Tragically, earlier this week, Ales Pushkin, imprisoned for his political beliefs, died in detention in Belarus.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is one of the only remaining outlets to shine a light on the human rights situation in Belarus. We have seen at this session through interactions with numerous Belarusian human rights defenders the importance they place on the mandate. Mr President, this Council must not let them down.

We urge the Belarusian authorities to engage faithfully with the mandate and regret the attitude of ‘disdain’ shown towards international human rights mechanisms as described by the Special Rapporteur.

We hope that the Human Rights Council can adopt this important resolution by consensus.

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – UK Statement on Syria resolution [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 July 2023.

Statement on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. As delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr President,

I have the honour to present draft resolution L.16 on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Qatar, Türkiye, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Mr President,

As we conclude this four-week session of this Council, let me begin by drawing attention to the fact that, during this time, a number of targeted strikes on civilians in Syria have taken place.

The targets were villages, towns, markets. The victims were innocent men, women and children. The perpetrators were the Syrian regime and its allies.

This violence inflicted on the Syrian people is all too familiar. As is the continued use of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and sexual and gender-based violence. With 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance, any uncertainty around humanitarian access is a further form of torment.

In our resolution we highlight the plight of women and girls in Syria and their inability to exercise many of their economic, social and political rights.

The conflict has left many women as the breadwinners for their families, within a legal framework and a culture that discriminates against them.

Rights to property, inheritance and even custody of children are often not accessible to women, in the absence of male family members who have been killed or are missing.

Lack of equality before the law and protection against violence, in a conflict that has left over seven million Syrians, overwhelmingly women and girls, in need of services related to sexual and gender-based violence, is cruelty in the extreme.

Mr President,

The resolution put forward today condemns the targeting of women and girls in Syria, whether through discriminatory laws and practices, sexual and gender-based violence, or restrictions imposed on women who speak out in the face of multiple injustices.

The resolution welcomes the decision to establish the Independent Institution on Missing Persons, to resolve the fate of the missing in Syria. A protracted issue that has had a unique impact on women.

It also highlights the vital role Syrian women continue to play in the pursuit of justice, accountability, and peace, often in the face of harassment, intimidation and fears for their own safety.

Let me thank all those who have engaged constructively in the informal consultations on this resolution.

Mr President, at a time when the Syrian regime is looking for allies, it is important that this Council adopts this resolution to continue our efforts to hold that regime to account for its crimes. If a vote is called on this resolution, I urge our fellow members of the Council to vote in favour of it.

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Asylum seekers arrive at Wethersfield accommodation site [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 July 2023.

Asylum seekers have moved to the first large-scale asylum accommodation site in the UK as part of the government’s pledge to reduce the use of expensive hotels.

Forty-six asylum seekers arrived at the former military site in Wethersfield, Essex, today (Wednesday 12 July) with more individuals to arrive in the coming weeks.

This is part of a carefully structured plan to increase the number of asylum seekers there to 1,700 by this autumn.

Wethersfield is one of several alternative accommodation sites the government is using as part of its work to move to a more orderly, cost effective and sustainable system for accommodating asylum seekers, which not only is more manageable for communities but will also help reduce the incentives for people to travel through safe countries.

To help ensure sufficient support is in place, Braintree Council is receiving £3,500 per occupied bed space, with additional funding provided to the local NHS.

Preparations are also continuing on the Bibby Stockholm vessel, currently in Falmouth, which will accommodate the first asylum seekers in Portland Port this month.

The site and vessel provide basic and functional accommodation which offers better value for taxpayers than using hotels.

The use of vessels for accommodation brings the UK in line with other countries around Europe, for example in the Netherlands where migrants have successfully been accommodated on vessels. The Scottish Government have also used vessels for Ukrainian refugees.

The Home Office has worked closely with local councils and stakeholders to minimise the impact of the site and vessel on local services and the community, while understanding their views and providing support.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, said:

Those individuals who have entered the UK illegally shouldn’t be given hotel accommodation at great expense to the taxpayer. That’s why our large disused military sites and vessels will provide basic and functional accommodation for small boat arrivals whilst we pursue their removal.

We have committed substantial financial support to local councils and we remain committed to working with key stakeholders to ensure these sites have as little impact as possible for communities.

Ultimately the best way to relieve pressures on communities is to stop the boats in the first place. Our Stop the Boats Bill will ensure illegal entrants to the UK can be detained and swiftly removed.

The government continues work on delivering alternative asylum accommodation sites, including Scampton in Lincolnshire which will accommodate the first of its 2,000 asylum seekers this summer.

Wethersfield, the Portland vessel and Scampton will house single adult male asylum seekers. The accommodation provided meets all relevant housing and health and safety standards.

Resources provided onsite will include meals, onsite primary health care provision, a multi-faith room, recreational and indoor and outdoor exercise facilities.

To reduce hotel use the Home Office is also making sure that migrants routinely share hotel rooms with at least one person where appropriate, in order to make progress on work to reduce the use of hotels and minimise the impact on communities while we stand up these alternatives sites.

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary announces investment in southeast Asian economies [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 July 2023.

The Foreign Secretary will this week visit Jakarta (13 to 14 July), meeting ASEAN partners to advance shared priorities of security, stability and prosperity.
- Foreign Secretary to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministerial meeting in Indonesia
- he will set out the UK’s support for a strong and united ASEAN as central to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific
- visit comes as part of a series of multilateral events this month, including the NATO conference and UN Security Council
The Foreign Secretary will this week visit Jakarta (13 to 14 July), meeting ASEAN partners to advance cooperation on the shared priorities of security, stability and prosperity.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will announce up to £25 million in funding to support ASEAN nations’ economic growth and reduce poverty, bringing UK expertise in trade, regulation and financial services to the region over the next 5 years. This will boost long-term UK trade and investment links in a region which includes some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Southeast Asia is on course to be equivalent to the fourth largest economy by 2030, with total trade in goods and services between the UK and ASEAN worth £46.5 billion to the end of 2022, helping deliver on the government’s priority of growing the economy.

Later this month the UK will begin its formal accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc (CPTPP), further strengthening British trade and investment links in the region.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said:

The security and economies of the UK and southeast Asia are more closely linked than ever before.

That is why we are growing our long-term ties with dynamic, fast-growing markets across this region and showing our support for a strong, unified ASEAN – which is vital for the prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific.

The UK and ASEAN are working together to deliver the Plan of Action 2022 to 2026 to improve lives across the region, such as ensuring girls across southeast Asia can access quality education. This is in addition to UK work in the wider Indo-Pacific, such as the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia programme, which is upgrading homes and infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change.

The Foreign Secretary will set out how the UK is working with ASEAN to make the region safer, from leading the UNSC’s response to the crisis in Myanmar, to engaging with navies across the region and funding high-quality training on maritime security to secure safe and open shipping lanes.

The UK has strong existing defence links across the region, including British Forces Brunei and the Five Power Defence Arrangements alongside Malaysia and Singapore. And the UK is taking its support for regional leadership on defence, security and stability to the next level by seeking membership of the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus.

The visit demonstrates how the UK is working through effective multilateral organisations to safeguard a stable and open international order, as set out by the Foreign Secretary in a speech in London last month.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit to Jakarta follows his attendance at the NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The UK set out clear support for a united NATO providing increased political and practical support for Ukraine, as part of a robust global multilateral system. After Jakarta, the Foreign Secretary will travel to the United Nations in New York to lead sessions at the UN Security Council, during the UK’s presidency this month.

The Integrated Review Refresh, published in March 2023, set out how the UK will prioritise the Indo-Pacific, making the region a permanent pillar of the UK’s international policy. Its steadfast partnerships cement the UK’s enduring commitment to safeguarding security, stability and prosperity across the world.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, visited Indonesia in November 2022 for the G20 leaders’ summit, where he set out his five point plan to help the UK and international partners weather the global economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New working group to help turbocharge Scotland’s defence sector [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 July 2023.

Scottish Secretary will chair the roundtable at the UK Government’s Edinburgh HQ as Thales Glasgow wins a multi-million pound defence contract.

Leading defence companies will join the UK Government and the Armed Forces in Scotland today (Thursday 13 July) to thrash out a roadmap for maximising the defence sector’s economy-boosting impact.

The meeting comes as it was confirmed that a defence contract worth £169 million has been awarded to Thales Glasgow to build the integrated optronic combat system mast, the above water ‘eyes’ for the Royal Navy future nuclear deterrent submarine class – Dreadnought.

Every Royal Navy submarine in service since 1917 has been fitted with a Thales periscope or optronics mast manufactured at its site on the Clyde. The Dreadnought version continues this tradition, sustaining more than 150 jobs, while the whole Dreadnought programme – from design through to build – will support around 30,000 jobs across the UK, contributing to the growth of the economy.

Roundtable partner ADS – the trade organisation for companies in the UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors – will also unveil new figures at today’s meeting that show Scottish businesses in these fields produced £7.3 billion in turnover, delivering £3.2 billion in value add to the economy in 2022.

The research from the trade association representing more than 1,200 members across the UK also highlighted that the sectors employed 33,500 people in Scotland, including 1,500 apprentices.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

It’s clear that Scottish skills, expertise and innovation make an enormous contribution to the UK’s defence industry, with massive benefits for our national security and economy. I’m looking forward to hosting ADS, its members, the Armed Forces and UK Government departments at this new forum. The UK Government is committed to growing our economy, including by working with the defence industry to support its success in the UK and in exporting overseas.

On the contract award from BAE Systems Submarines to Thales as part of the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought programme, the Scottish Secretary said:

With more than a century’s experience of building periscopes and optronic masts for our submarines, it’s great news that Thales’ Glasgow workforce will once again be at the forefront of producing the state-of-the-art combat system mast for our round the clock nuclear deterrent. Defence plays a crucial part in the security of the United Kingdom and also contributes significantly to delivering high-skilled jobs and investment in Scotland.

Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said:

This is a clear investment in maintaining the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent. By providing the ‘eyes’ of the new Dreadnought Class Submarine, this technology will play a key role in keeping the country safe. The Dreadnought programme will support tens of thousands of UK jobs, boosting the economy and defending our nation.

CEO of Thales UK Alex Cresswell said:

We are proud to say that our combat system mast and sonar will be providing the eyes and ears capabilities of the new Dreadnought Class. The boat build, led by BAE Systems and partners, will be another milestone showcase of UK engineering skills and innovation. It is an incredibly exciting time for the Submarine Service and its contribution to global security with the build of the Dreadnought class and as we look to the development of the AUKUS submarine programme that will deliver a future capability for Australia and the UK.

The defence roundtable is the first of what is planned to be a biannual gathering to ensure the sector is able to maximise its economic benefits for the UK. The working group will allow the UK Government and Armed Forces to establish a more direct relationship with Scottish industry. Today’s discussion will include sector priorities, challenges and upcoming milestones.

Minister for Exports Lord Offord said:

Scotland has a thriving defence and security industry that employs tens of thousands of people and contributes billions to the local economy, and the UK Government is determined to do all we can to help these businesses continue to flourish. That’s why this roundtable is so important – it will not only allow us to hear directly from those in the sector, but help us to better support them in the future.

ADS in Scotland Director Warrick Malcolm said:

Innovative Scottish businesses are major employers, and provide a significant contribution to the economy, our prosperity and national security. Scottish businesses are recognised internationally for their contribution to the global aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. It is essential Scotland’s growth continues, securing the UK’s world-leading position in rapidly advancing sectors. We are looking forward to the first roundtable, an important new platform to convene Scottish industry and political stakeholders.

As well as ADS it will feature member companies from across the Scottish defence industry, from large companies to small and medium enterprises. These included Thales, BAE, Spirit Aerosystems, Leonardo, QinetiQ, Raytheon, Castle Precision, Glenalmond and Babcock.

Armed Forces representatives from across the three services in Scotland and Ministry of Defence representatives will also attend.

Mark Goldsack, Director Defence Security Exports, Department for Business and Trade, will present an agenda item on supporting Scottish exports.

The UK remains the second largest global defence exporter after the USA. In 2021, the value of UK security export sales was £8.22 billion, and in that same year the UK won defence orders worth £6.64 billion.

Background

Since 1962, the UK has declared its nuclear deterrent to the defence of NATO, meaning that all NATO Allies benefit from the protection of the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) under collective defence. Currently provided by the UK’s Vanguard Class submarines, while the new Dreadnought Class are in build at BAE Systems’ site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, the deterrent will continue to operate for as long as the international situation requires it.

Weighing more than 17,000 tonnes, Dreadnought will be 152.9 metres long – the length of three Olympic swimming pools – and carry 130 crew. The new optronics mast is an innovative evolution on the traditional periscope that provides improved electronic, stabilised, quality visuals for the crew. This makes it safer for the crew as it provides clearer images of activity and enables them to detect enemy movements more quickly.

Beyond the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Scotland is also home to some of the UK’s most crucial defence capabilities, including our Quick Reaction Alert based at RAF Lossiemouth, and a thriving defence industry with both Type 26 and Type 31 frigates currently in build in Scottish shipyards.

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Major review of women’s football published [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 July 2023.

Former England and Great Britain footballer turned pundit Karen Carney MBE has today published her major independent review into the future of domestic women’s football.
- Former Lioness Karen Carney MBE publishes findings and recommendations of her review into the future of domestic women’s football
- Review was commissioned by UK Government following England’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 success and is published in the build-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
- Report recommends raising minimum standards across the game and calls for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship to become fully professional environments
Former England and Great Britain footballer turned pundit Karen Carney MBE has today published her major review into the future of domestic women’s football, calling for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship to become fully professional environments, and a new dedicated broadcast slot for women’s football.

The findings in the independent report, commissioned by the Government in September 2022, examine the opportunities and challenges for the women’s and girls’ game – from the commercial future of the elite game to the current professional environment, the fan experience and women and girls’ experiences of participating in grassroots football. It sets out a route to lift minimum standards and deliver bold and sustainable growth at elite and grassroots levels.

Since the launch of the review, Carney has met with a wide variety of stakeholders from across the game. This includes the technical staff and players at Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship clubs, former players, the football authorities and representatives from organisations across women’s sport and beyond to discuss the issues facing the game’s development.

She has also met with financial and commercial experts, alongside major broadcasters and sponsors to discuss the game’s financial health and future revenue opportunities.

Chair of the review of domestic women’s football Karen Carney MBE said:

Following the Lionesses’ unforgettable success in 2022 and as we look ahead to the World Cup, it is clear that domestic women’s football has reached a defining moment.

This review has enabled us to get a comprehensive understanding of the state of the game, and how we can capitalise on the current momentum.

It is clear that the women’s game in this country can become a world leading sport that not only generates immense economic and social value, but sets the standards for women’s professional sport globally.

These recommendations must be a blueprint for how this can be achieved, and must be acted upon with urgency.

The review makes ten recommendations:
- The new standalone company tasked with running the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship, NewCo, should not settle for anything less than world leading standards for players, fans, staff and everybody involved in the women’s game.
- The FA needs to fix the talent pathway to create generation after generation of world-beating Lionesses. As part of this:
  - The FA should choose a strategic partner willing to invest in building a sustainable pipeline of domestic talent.
  - Clubs should be allowed access to an increased pool of international talent while the domestic pathway is fixed.
- The Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship should become fully professional environments designed to attract, develop and sustain the best playing talent in the world. This means the FA:
  - Addressing the gulf in minimum operating standards between the two leagues (specifically minimum contact time with a player, and player salaries).
  - Providing gold standard physical and mental health provision.
  - Mandating elite training facilities for players.
  - Mandating a world leading parental package.
  - Funding full union representation to both tiers.
  - Uplifting duty of care provision for players.
  - Offering best-in-class career transition support for players leaving the professional game.
- The FA should urgently address the lack of diversity across the women’s game – in on and off-pitch roles.
- The FA, Premier League, EFL and broadcasters should work together to carve out a new dedicated broadcast slot for women’s football (last season most WSL matches kicked off at 11.30am on Saturdays and 6.45pm on Sundays).
- Clubs must better value and support their fans – the FA should raise minimum standards to enforce this.
- The Government must deliver on recent commitments around equal access to school sports for girls.
- Everyone involved in funding grassroots facilities – the Government, local authorities, the FA and Premier League – must come together to increase investment to accommodate meaningful access for women and girls to play sport.
- The FA, Premier League and Football Foundation should work together to make sure women and girls are benefitting from funding flowing into facilities across the pyramid.
- As the FA hands over the responsibility for running the Women’s Super League and Championship to NewCo, it must now place more focus on the development of grassroots clubs and the rest of the women’s football pyramid.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

I want to pay tribute to Karen Carney and her panel of experts for all the hard work and dedication they have put into producing such an important review.

After the joy of last summer when the Lionesses lifted the Women’s EURO 2022 trophy, and as we approach the Women’s World Cup in just a few days time, we are at a milestone for women’s sport.

Women’s football in particular has huge potential to improve the lives of women and girls and offer a special and accessible sporting environment for fans. Everyone involved in the game must consider the recommendations made in this report and help to take the game to the next level.

The findings and recommendations have been developed with the support of a panel of experts. It includes former professional footballer turned pundit Ian Wright, former Lionesses Head Coach Hope Powell, Chair of the Professional Game Academy Audit Company and Director of the Women in Football group Jane Purdon, NFL Head of Europe and UK and former CEO of World Rugby Brett Gosper, former Deloitte Global Lead Partner for Sports Business Dan Jones and Secretary General of the International Working Group on Women and Sport Lisa O’Keefe.

The Government will set out its full response to the recommendations in the autumn.
July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK is committed to supporting Colombia along its path to peace and security for all its people – UK statement at the Security Council [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

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

Thank you to SRSG Ruiz Massieu and Ms Salcedo López for their briefings. I welcome the participation of Foreign Minister Leyva at this meeting.

The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts made by the Colombian Government to implement the Peace Agreement. We welcome the approval of the National Development Plan, which includes an Investment Plan for Peace. Ensuring funding to deliver reforms and strengthen state presence across Colombia will be essential to deliver progress in the coming years.

As Ms Salcedo sets out, the Gender Chapter is an essential element of the Peace Agreement. We are concerned that women leaders and female ex-combatants continue to face conflict-related sexual violence, and we encourage the Government of Colombia to continue to prioritise full implementation of the gender provisions of the Peace Agreement.

Political participation is also critical to the implementation of the Peace Agreement. As we approach regional elections in October, we encourage the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of peace signatories seeking to participate in the democratic process.

We strongly condemn violence against ex-FARC combatants, human rights defenders and social leaders. Since the signing of the agreement, over 375 ex-FARC combatants have been killed. We urge the Government to strengthen prevention and protection measures, and reiterate the importance of the National Commission on Security Guarantees.

The United Kingdom welcomes the announcement in June of a ceasefire between the Government and the ELN and hopes that communities see genuine improvements in their security. We expect the ELN to approach its undertakings in good faith. We are following closely the efforts of the government to reach a ceasefire agreement with the EMC.

Finally, we thank the Secretary-General for providing the Council with options for an expanded UN role in verifying ceasefire agreements. We will share a draft resolution in the coming days for discussion with Council Members.

Foreign Minister Levya, SRSG Ruiz Massieu, members of the Council, Colombia can count on the UK to continue supporting it along your path to peace and security for all its people.

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on UK – Texas trade [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 12 July 2023.

Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston welcomed the First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott and other key officials to celebrate the enduring partnership between the UK and Texas and discuss ways to bolster their strong economic relationship.

Minister Huddleston was pleased to welcome the First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott, Texas Secretary of State, Jane Nelson, Vice Chair of the Texas Economic Development Corporation, Arun Agarwal and Executive Director of Texas Economic Development and Tourism, Adriana Cruz to the United Kingdom today, 11th July.

Minister Huddleston, the First Lady, Secretary Nelson, Vice Chair Agarwal and Executive Director Cruz celebrated the enduring bond between the United Kingdom and Texas, highlighting their longstanding, successful economic ties:
- The UK leads all nations for the number of foreign direct investment projects in Texas and is Texas’ ninth-largest trading partner (2022).
- Texas goods and services exports to the UK amounted to $15.8bn/ £12.8bn in 2022.
- UK goods exports to Texas amounted to $5.4bn/ £4.4bn in 2022.
- In the last decade, UK companies have made $5.6bn/ £4.4bn in capital investment through 337 projects in Texas, creating more than 15,100 jobs.
In the spirit of joint economic development and cooperation, Minister Huddleston and Executive Director Cruz agreed to accelerate discussions on the terms of a Statement of Mutual Cooperation (SMC) to strengthen trade and economic development ties between the United Kingdom and the State of Texas. This future-facing agreement, focused on the unique, diverse challenges of the 21st century, will aim to increase transatlantic trade and investment opportunities for companies both in the United Kingdom and Texas and build upon the strong existing trading relationship.

It is envisaged that the SMC will create a forum to identify and address any existing market access barriers for UK and Texas businesses, promote job creation, and focus on innovation, emerging technologies, and advancing shared policy goals, and more.

This SMC will seek to put in place arrangements for the Government of the United Kingdom and the State of Texas to ensure their trade and economic relationship continues to deliver benefits for the respective citizens of both parties.
July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Statement on human rights situation in Ukraine & Crimea [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

UK statement on oral update of High Commissioner on human rights situation in Ukraine & Secretary-General interim report on human rights situation in Crimea.

Thank you,

Last week marked 500 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

500 days not of friendship for the Charter, but its daily flouting.

500 days of atrocities. More than 500 children killed.

Thousands of civilians killed. Millions displaced. Schools, hospitals and homes destroyed. Ukraine’s fertile fields flooded and mined, not producing food for the world. Tens of thousands of civilians detained, countless among them tortured. Children stolen from their families, their Ukrainian identity denied. No wonder that the ICC issued an arrest warrant against President Putin.

Thank you, High Commissioner for the role you and your teams on the ground have played in calling out these systematic violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. International law matters. The Charter matters. Accountability matters.

High Commissioner,

How can the international community support those thousands of civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia?

July 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The destruction of the Kakhovka dam – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

Deputy Ambassador Brown says Russia must bear ultimate responsibility for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

Chairs, as we said this morning, and as we have seen in detail this afternoon, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam is a major catastrophe with wide-reaching ecological and humanitarian consequences. Tens of thousands have been directly impacted by the resultant flooding.

Let us be clear. Russia has controlled the area since just after the invasion and must bear ultimate responsibility: none of the suffering that we have seen or the damage caused would have happened if Russia had not launched an unprovoked and illegal war of aggression.

We are still analysing the impact on Ukraine’s grain production, but what is very clear is that this disaster has had, and will have, an unquantifiable impact on Ukraine’s ability to maintain production. An attack on the dam is not just on Ukraine, but on all those who depend on Ukraine’s grain exports to provide food around the world.

The destruction of the Kakhovka is abhorrent. Intentionally targeting exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime. And any targeting of innocent civilians or humanitarian workers trying to escape an ongoing humanitarian disaster is not only barbaric, but also a gross breach of the Geneva Conventions.

The links between environmental destruction and security are alarmingly clear. And it is right that we should discuss them in this forum at the OSCE.

July 24, 2023