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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure deepen humanitarian harm and endanger nuclear safety – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure deepen humanitarian harm and endanger nuclear safety – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

    Ambassador Holland condemns Russia’s recurrent strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, highlighting severe humanitarian impacts and nuclear safety risks. Russia’s proposals for a settlement would last only until Moscow decided it wanted more. A settlement that rewards territorial theft would only guarantee future war.

    Thank you, Chair.  Last weekend, Russia again struck Ukraine’s power system with large waves of drones and missiles, killing civilians, damaging energy facilities across multiple regions and triggering blackouts.    

    Russia has insisted that it targets only military-relevant facilities and that anything short of plunging Ukraine into total darkness – which would bring with it a nuclear catastrophe – was showing restraint.  This argument collapses on contact with the facts.   

    The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has assessed Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network as likely violating international humanitarian law because of its predictable, severe and widespread civilian impacts on heating, water, sanitation, healthcare and education.  Recurrent strikes on energy infrastructure are not restraint.  They are deepening humanitarian harm as winter approaches. 

    These attacks also endanger nuclear safety.  The IAEA has warned repeatedly that degrading Ukraine’s external power supplies and striking grid nodes that feed nuclear facilities create a persistent risk to reactor and spent-fuel cooling.  We are one accident away from a catastrophe for the region.  Recent incidents forcing plants to use backup power underline how fragile safety margins are in a war zone. 

    True to form, Russia returns to deception and deflection, using its disinformation machine to spread lies of “western sabotage” rather than demonstrate some responsible behaviour.  

    Chair, we do not doubt the sincerity of Russia’s stated desire for a “long-term settlement” to this war.  For Russia, it has been a strategic disaster, has sadly resulted in more than a million Russian casualties, and has led Russia’s economy into very troubled waters.  But what Russia actually wants is to bake its violation of our shared principles into any settlement.  To force Ukraine and the rest of us to accept aggression as the new normal.  Its so-called conditions for peace would reward invasion, legitimise occupation, and give Russia a veto over its neighbour’s future.  That is not peace: it is coercion dressed up as diplomacy.  And it would not be for the long-term: it would last only until Moscow decided that it wanted more. 

    Russia has argued that its security interests need to be considered in any settlement.  In fact, the UK agrees with this.  But we believe that Russia’s security interests – like the rest of ours – are best served by respecting the principles and laws that we have all collectively agreed.  But when the Kremlin talks of its security interests, it does not mean the many; it means the few. 

    The UK remains strongly in support of peace – and has been firmly behind US and Ukrainian efforts to end this war.   

    A just and lasting peace is not a slogan; it means upholding the foundational principles of global peace and security that we have all committed to.  A settlement that rewards territorial theft would only guarantee future war.  Peace built on justice and shared principles can endure.  Peace built on fear and force will not.     

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen [November 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 November 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen this evening.

    They discussed the ongoing progress to implement the ambitious package agreed at the UK-EU Summit in May.

    They reaffirmed their commitment to moving forwards rapidly, as it is in the UK and the EU’s interests to have a broad and constructive relationship that delivers for both sides.

    The Prime Minister was clear that any deals must result in tangible benefits to the British public and strengthen wider European security.

    They agreed to stay in close contact.

  • PRESS RELEASE : First visit to meet Rohingya women and girls in Bangladesh for UK Minister [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : First visit to meet Rohingya women and girls in Bangladesh for UK Minister [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 November 2025.

    UK Minister for International Development, Jenny Chapman will confirm UK support for Rohingya refugees, including women and girls, while visiting Bangladesh this week (13–14 November 2025).

    During her visit, Minister Chapman will see UK-funded programmes supporting Rohingya refugees to help prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).  

    The UK continues to call for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar when conditions allow. This visit follows the recent announcement of a new £27 million package of  aid to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to over half a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. 

    While in Bangladesh, the Minister will also meet with key figures in the Interim Government, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, and Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashik Chowdhury. She will also attend a roundtable focused on UK–Bangladesh cooperation on irregular migration. 

    UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Chapman said: 

    The UK is proud to stand with Bangladesh as a true partner. From supporting the Rohingya refugees being hosted by Bangladeshi communities, to tackling the climate crisis and irregular migration, our work together is delivering real and positive impacts for both our countries.

    British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said: 

    This visit underscores the UK’s commitment to a modern, mutually beneficial development partnership with Bangladesh.

    Minister Chapman will also announce the UK will provide new support to tackle the impacts of the climate crisis in twelve Asian and African countries and regions, including Bangladesh while on the visit. This includes UK help to build resilience for vulnerable and food-insecure households and communities through the Resilience and Adaptation Fund. This will provide skills training in areas like climate-resilient farming techniques designed to withstand seasonal flooding and cyclones to tens of thousands of households. 

     Notes to editors: 

    1. The UK announced a £27 million package of aid in September to provide food, shelter, clean water, and other life-saving services to half a million Rohingya refugees displaced from Myanmar by conflict and persecution. The UK is a leading long-term contributor to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, having provided over £447 million since 2017. 
    2. The UK will provide a £30 million uplift to the Resilience and Adaptation Fund. £4 million has been allocated to Bangladesh, with eleven other countries and regions also set to receive funding (Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Sahel, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Uganda).
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government apologises for historical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government apologises for historical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 12 November 2025.

    Minister for Youth Justice Jake Richards has apologised to the victims and survivors subjected to shocking and systematic abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.

    • Government vows systemic abuse at Medomsley must never happen again
    • New safeguarding panel to improve protections for children in custody
    • Part of wider Government reforms to bolster child safeguarding as part of Plan for Change

    Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister Richards described the abuse as “a monstrous perversion of justice” and paid tribute to the courage of survivors and the tireless campaigning of MPs and families who have fought for justice over many years.   

    The apology follows a Prison and Probation Ombudsman report into the physical, sexual and psychological abuse many children suffered at Medomsley in the North East of England from the early 1960s until its closure in the late 1980s.  

    In a written statement to Parliament responding to the report, the Government has today also announced new measures to ensure such horrors are never allowed to happen again.  

    A new Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel, led by an expert in child safeguarding, will review how children are protected in custody. The panel will examine areas such as complaints processes, staff training and ensure children’s voices are heard.  

    Minister for Youth Justice, Jake Richards said:  

    To the men who suffered such horrific abuse at Medomsley, I want to say again – I am truly sorry. The failings set out in today’s report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman are truly harrowing, and we must ensure nothing like this ever happens again. 

    This Government is establishing a Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel to review how we protect children in custody today. It will ensure their voices are heard, that complaints are taken seriously, and that every child is kept safe from harm.

    The youth custodial estate today bears little resemblance to the one which the abuse at Medomsley took place, with children no longer detained for less serious offences and the number of children in custody has fallen significantly in the last 20 years. 

    However, the government is determined that those who do require custody receive the best care and support they need to turn their lives around.

    The Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel will report directly to Ministers and will look closely at how professionals work with young people in custody. This includes how children can speak up if something is wrong and how safety measures are working.  

    In 2019, the Ministry of Justice established a settlement scheme for victims and survivors of physical and sexual abuse at Medomsley. To date, this has paid out over £10m to over 2,700 individuals and anyone who suffered abuse at Medomsley is still able to make a claim. 

    The Government has also reaffirmed its commitment to wider child safeguarding reforms, including: 

    • A new statutory duty to report child sexual abuse for professionals working with children. 
    • Stronger obligations on public bodies to provide evidence with candour during investigations. 
    • Enhanced legal rights for victims through the Victims and Courts Bill, currently progressing through Parliament. 

    Background

  • PRESS RELEASE : Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 12 November 2025.

    Partnership with the Ministry of Defence will see 36 defence driving examiners provide thousands of additional tests over the next year.

    • government taking decisive action to reduce driving test waiting times, deploying defence driving examiners across England over the next year
    • up to 6,500 additional tests will be delivered over the next year and will be based at driving test centres with the highest demand, so learners can get on the road quickly
    • new measures also introduced to stamp out reselling of tests, as government remains committed to helping drivers ditch their L plates as soon as they’re ready

    Military driving examiners will help deliver up to 6,500 more tests in tough new measures to tackle the driving test backlog, the government announced today (12 November 2025).

    There will also be a new limit on rearranging tests and a ban on third parties booking on behalf of learners in order to make the system fairer, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

    The Department for Transport, working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), has announced 36 defence driving examiners (DDEs), made up of civilian MOD personnel, will help conduct driving tests one day a week for 12 months.

    The extra personnel will be focusing primarily on car driving tests but with flexibility to carry out vocational tests, for bus and lorry drivers, if needed. They will be based at the driving test centres with the highest demand near their MOD base or home location.

    Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

    We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates, who have been sadly forced to endure record waiting times for their tests. Every learner should have an equal and fair opportunity to take a test.

    We’re taking decisive action and these new measures will deliver thousands of extra tests over the next year, helping learners get on the road sooner. This will ease pressure on the system, removing barriers to opportunity and supporting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Military driving examiners usually test service personnel, covering cars as well as fuel tankers and armoured carriers. The new arrangement will benefit both parties, helping tackle the driving test backlog and keeping DDEs skills sharp.

    The Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, has authorised the deployment of military driving examiners to help bring down the backlog, with no negative impact on military operations.

    Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, said:

    The Armed Forces and civilians working within the Ministry of Defence have always been ready to step up when the country needs them – and this is another example of that commitment in action.

    Our military driving examiners bring skill and professionalism from testing service personnel to prepare them for some of the toughest conditions imaginable.

    By supporting civilian testing, they’re helping to get more learners on the road, keep Britain moving and deliver for the public.

    Alongside military support, the government is introducing new rules to tackle unfair booking practices that have allowed bots and resellers to profit at learners’ expense.

    New rules will mean that:

    • learner drivers will only be able to make up to 2 changes to the driving test in total – including moves, swaps and location changes – before it must be cancelled and rebooked
    • learner drivers will be restricted to a limited number of test centres, which are located close to the original booking
    • only learner drivers will be able to book their own test and not instructors on their behalf

    Limiting who can book a test and the number of changes made will mean third parties will no longer be able to resell tests at inflated prices. Learners will only pay the actual fee DVSA charges – £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays – giving them greater control and confidence when booking a driving test.

    Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation, said:

    It is good to see steps being put in place to put a stop to those touting tests to frustrated learners – candidates stuck in the queue should at least be reassured that they aren’t being elbowed aside by those simply seeking to make a quick buck.

    What will really deter the touts and tackle the queues would be a return to the more reasonable pre-COVID waiting time for tests, which we hope the arrival of a platoon of military examiners alongside the new DVSA recruits will help deliver.

    The government instructed the DVSA to take further measures this year, and is now beginning to see early signs of improvement. We saw an increase in the number of tests over summer 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 and have nearly doubled the number of trainers available to train new examiners, to help unlock more tests.

    The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 50 – UK Statement on Libya [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 50 – UK Statement on Libya [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 November 2025.

    Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Libya’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you Mr Vice President.

    The UK welcomes recent steps by the Libyan government, including extending ICC jurisdiction to 2027 and supporting the renewal of OHCHR’s technical assistance.

    However, we remain gravely concerned by escalating human rights violations and abuses, particularly arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture, committed with near-total impunity.

    We also call for meaningful engagement in the UN’s political process. Lasting peace and stability are vital to advancing human rights.

    We recommend that Libya:

    1. Ensures access and accountability by allowing unrestricted entry for UN bodies and NGOs to all areas, including detention centres and mass graves, and fully cooperating with investigations into disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings.
    2. Ends abuse of migrants and refugees by closing detention centres linked to torture, sexual violence and killings, and establishes a fair asylum system in line with international law.
    3. Advances women’s rights by: repealing discriminatory laws, notably Penal Code Article 424; criminalising all forms of sexual and gender-based violence including online; and ensuring women’s full participation in politics and peacebuilding.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New report highlights impact of climate change on mental health in the UK [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New report highlights impact of climate change on mental health in the UK [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 12 November 2025.

    The new report demonstrates the impact climate change is already having on the mental health of the UK population.

    A report published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) demonstrates the impact climate change is already having on the mental health of the UK population.

    The effects of extreme weather such as flooding and heat are the biggest climate-related issues affecting mental health in the UK today, particularly impacting vulnerable populations who find it increasingly difficult to access transport and healthcare services in extreme conditions.  

    An increasing awareness of these longer-term impacts is also leading to increased anxiety about the future, particularly among children and young people. In the absence of appropriate interventions and adaptations, these impacts are likely to grow as the climate warms.

    The report outlines that mental health impacts are not felt equally – farming, rural communities, those with livelihoods connected to the land and those with pre-existing health issues are at heightened risk.

    There are steps that can be taken to reduce the burden placed on mental health and well-being from climate change, including implementing preparedness measures such as high-quality early warning systems and providing targeted mental health support for communities affected by adverse weather events.

    Professor Lea Berrang Ford, Head of the UKHSA Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS), said:

    Climate change is already impacting mental health, and these risks will increase as the climate warms and extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.  

    Climate warming will exacerbate mental health inequalities, with impacts greatest on rural and agricultural communities and young people.

    There are practical and effective steps government and social care organisations can take to ensure adequate protection and support.

    Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:

    Published as part of UKHSA’s commitment to the UK Government’s National Adaptation Programme, this publication is an important step forward and builds on the evidence base set in out in the Health Effects of Climate Change report.

    Crucially this report highlights there is much we can do to minimise the adverse impacts from climate change on mental health and we hope that it will help galvanise activity and lead to coordinated action in this area.

    This report is part of UKHSA’s ongoing commitment to investigate the impact of climate change on health. One of the main findings of this report is that these impacts are not evenly distributed, with certain groups being disproportionately affected. 

    Farming communities in the UK already experience high rates of mental health challenges, with only 55% of farmers feeling positive about their mental health. Climate change will exacerbate this burden.

    For younger generations, the impacts can be anticipatory – they suffer anxiety about the effects that climate change will have in their lifetime, which is coupled with a perceived lack of ability to carry out actions to make a difference.

    In a global survey published by the Lancet Planetary Health, findings from the UK showed that out of 1,000 children, 50% reported feeling extremely worried about climate change, with some respondents across all 10 countries surveyed also saying it impacted their daily lives and made them hesitant about having children due to concerns over their future quality of life.

    These mental health and wellbeing impacts need to be considered alongside existing service pressures and other predicted changes to health service demand associated with an ageing population.

    Alongside demonstrating the impacts climate change could have, the report is clear that there are steps that can be taken to counter these affects. Targeted interventions for specific groups can reduce climate-related distress, while mitigation or adaptation actions can have positive mental health co-benefits.

    Many interventions targeted at supporting people following extreme weather events focus on impacts immediately following the event, but this report highlights the importance of ongoing support to address mental health impacts that persist beyond the immediate crisis.

    Interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or digital interventions such as mobile mindfulness apps or text-based supportive messaging associated with both climate-related weather hazards and general awareness of climate change significantly reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and stress. In rural communities affected by drought, wildfires, floods and hurricanes, individual and group-based psychological and clinical interventions were also associated with a significant reduction in these symptoms.

    Interventions designed to adapt to or mitigate the impacts of climate change, including preparedness measures such as advanced warning systems, flood defences and timely dissemination of information, reduce the risk of mental health difficulties.

    There are also longer-term measures that can provide co-benefits, such as urban design strategies that improve mental health through increasing physical activity, shaded areas and social connectivity.

    Further research on successful interventions will help build resilience to these longer-term impacts of climate change and help maintain public health in a rapidly warming world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Education Secretary sets roadmap to improve attendance levels

    PRESS RELEASE : Education Secretary sets roadmap to improve attendance levels

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 12 November 2025.

    Every school to be set an individual minimum target to improve attendance and set up every child to achieve and thrive.

    Children stand to gain millions more days of learning as the Education Secretary has set every school an individual minimum attendance improvement target – part of an urgent drive to restore absence to pre-pandemic levels. 

    Last year saw the biggest improvement in overall attendance in a decade, with the government overseeing 5.3 million more days in school and 140,000 fewer persistently absent pupils as part of its Plan for Change.  

    But with 1 in 3 schools failing to improve, the Department for Education is today (Wednesday 12th) setting out a roadmap for every school to double down on its efforts to support pupils back to class, as research shows the importance of every day in school for children’s opportunity in life and future earnings.

    From this month, every school will be issued with AI-powered minimum attendance improvement targets to ensure children are in school and ready to achieve.  The attendance baseline improvement expectation (ABIE) will be based on schools’ circumstances – including location, pupil needs and deprivation. 

    The department is also using AI and data to give more support to schools to meet the minimum expectations, by linking them up with high performing schools with similar circumstances. These top schools will be identified within each school’s ABIE report.

    This comes alongside 36 new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs launching today, which will offer direct one-to-one support reaching tens of thousands of pupils across hundreds of schools, as wider sharing of best practice through events and open days. 

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

    We can only deliver opportunity for children in our country if they’re in school, achieving and thriving. That’s why I want every school to play its part in getting attendance back to – and beyond – pre-pandemic levels.

    We’ve already delivered the biggest improvement in attendance in a decade and now we’re building a school system for the future with free breakfast clubs, more mental health support and a curriculum and enrichment offer to match. But we must go further. 

    By working jointly with schools to set individual targets, we’re tackling variation head-on. Our best schools already have a brilliant approach to attendance, and now we’re driving that focus everywhere so that all children are supported to attend school and learn.

    Research also identifies a significant attendance drop-off during Key Stage 3 as pupils struggle to settle in to secondary school life and emerging issues start to surface. 

    That is why schools will now receive a best practice toolkit targeting these critical transition moments – like the jump from primary to secondary and Year 7 to 8 – giving them proven strategies to keep children engaged. 

    At CHS South in Manchester, the school encourages strong starts to secondary school by creating a sense of community with parents and pupils. Parents say the strategies, like family cooking classes in the summer before year 7 have eased anxiety around the transition.  

    Sue Burke, Deputy Headteacher and Attendance Lead, CHS South, Manchester: 

    Our ambition is that no-one is left behind or left on the outside looking in. We welcome and celebrate our young people and their families from their very first interaction with us, which in turn creates a community of belonging.   

    Attendance is a whole staff team effort and we are particularly proud of our attendance team, who work with relentless drive offering support and empathy to students and their families, while also providing skilful and personalised challenge when needed.

    King’s Leadership Academy Warrington, one of the best practice examples in the new toolkit, creates an environment where all children can belong and thrive with weekly enrichment sessions where pupils choose activities including crochet, gardening and sign language.

    This work to offer more enrichment opportunity has seen huge success in improving pupil attendance with one severely absent pupil now coming in to school more regularly so she can be part of the school’s community outreach programme to deliver reading support to younger children. 

    Umar Hussain, Kings Leadership Academy headteacher, said: 

    At King’s every day and every lesson counts. We create many opportunities to interact with our students and it’s those moments that build a genuine sense of belonging.  

    Our students matter to us, every child is noticed and greeted throughout the day, whether during lesson transitions, break times, or with a handshake and words of praise in lessons. Through these daily interactions, our students feel valued and connected, which helps them become happy, confident learners who want to attend school every day. 

    The government is tackling barriers to attendance head-on: from calling for schools to provide a base level of enrichment opportunities getting more children excited to attend, limiting branded uniform items to minimise social and financial pressure, and rolling out free breakfast clubs so no child starts the day hungry. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : New law to tackle AI child abuse images at source as reports more than double [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New law to tackle AI child abuse images at source as reports more than double [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 November 2025.

    New legislation sees government work with AI industry and child protection organisations to ensure AI models cannot be misused to create synthetic child sexual abuse images.

    • World-leading legislation sees government work with AI industry and child protection organisations to ensure AI models cannot be misused to create synthetic child sexual abuse images. 
    • Technology Secretary and Home Secretary will have new powers to designate AI developers and charities like the Internet Watch Foundation as authorised testers. 
    • Comes as fresh Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) data shows reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.(note)

    Children will be better protected from becoming victims of horrific indecent deepfakes as the government introduces new laws to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be exploited to generate child sexual abuse material. 

    Data from the Internet Watch Foundation released today (Wednesday 12 November) shows reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025. (note)

    There has also been a disturbing rise in depictions of infants, with images of 0–2-year-olds surging from 5 in 2024 to 92 in 2025. (note)

    Under stringent new legislation, designated bodies like AI developers and child protection organisations, such as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), will be empowered to scrutinise AI models, and ensure safeguards are in place to prevent them generating or proliferating child sexual abuse material, including indecent images and videos of children. 

    Currently, criminal liability to create and possess this material means developers can’t carry out safety testing on AI models, and images can only be removed after they have been created and shared online. This measure, one of the first of its kind in the world, ensures AI systems’ safeguards can be robustly tested from the start, to limit its production in the first place.

    The laws will also enable organisations to check models have protections against extreme pornography, and non-consensual intimate images. 

    While possessing and generating child sexual abuse material is already illegal under UK law, both real and synthetically produced by AI, improving AI image and video capabilities present a growing challenge. 

    We know that offenders who seek to create this heinous material often do so using images of real children – both those known to them and those found online – and attempt to circumnavigate safeguards designed to prevent this.

    This measure aims to make such actions more difficult by empowering companies to ensure their safeguards are effective and to develop innovative, robust methods to prevent model misuse.

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    We will not allow technological advancement to outpace our ability to keep children safe. 

    These new laws will ensure AI systems can be made safe at the source, preventing  vulnerabilities that could put children at risk.

    By empowering trusted organisations to scrutinise their AI models, we are ensuring child safety is designed into AI systems, not bolted on as an afterthought. 

    Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said:

    We must make sure children are kept safe online and that our laws keep up with the latest threats. This new measure will mean legitimate AI tools cannot be manipulated into creating vile material and more children will be protected from predators as a result.

    It comes as new Internet Watch Foundation data also shows the severity of the material has intensified over the past year. Category A content – images involving penetrative sexual activity, images involving sexual activity with an animal, or sadism – rose from 2,621 to 3,086 items, now accounting for 56% of all illegal material compared to 41% last year. (note) 

    Girls have been overwhelmingly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI images in 2025.(note)

    To ensure testing work is carried out safely and securely, the government will also bring together a group of experts in AI and child safety.  

    The group will help design the safeguards needed to protect sensitive data, prevent any risk of illegal content being leaked, and support the wellbeing of researchers involved.  

    These changes, which will be tabled today (Wednesday 12 November) as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, mark a major step forward in safeguarding children in the digital age. 

    They reflect the government’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with AI developers, tech platforms, and child protection organisations to build a safer online world for children. 

    We want the UK to be the safest place in the world to be online, particularly for children, and this includes when using AI Models. This measure aims to help us achieve that goal by making AI models used by the British public safer and more robust at preventing offenders from misusing this exciting technology for criminal activity.

    This proactive approach not only protects children from exploitation and re-victimisation but also reinforces public trust in AI innovation - proving that technological progress and child safety can go hand in hand. 

    Kerry Smith, Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), said: 

    We welcome the government’s efforts to bring in new measures for testing AI models to check whether they can be abused to create child sexual abuse. For 3 decades, we have been at the forefront of preventing the spread of this imagery online – we look forward to using our expertise to help further the fight against this new threat. 

    AI tools have made it so survivors can be victimised all over again with just a few clicks, giving criminals the ability to make potentially limitless amounts of sophisticated, photorealistic child sexual abuse material. Material which further commodifies victims’ suffering, and makes children, particularly girls, less safe on and off line. 

    Safety needs to be baked into new technology by design. Today’s announcement could be a vital step to make sure AI products are safe before they are released.

    Notes to editors

    (note): Internet Watch Foundation research – trends of AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) (data compares January to October 2024 vs January to October 2025)

    • AI reports actioned more than doubled, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.
    • While the overall number of AI images and videos decreased slightly (6,459 in 2024 to 5,560 in 2025), severity has intensified. Category A content rose from 2,621 to 3,086 items, now accounting for 56% of all illegal material compared to 41% last year.
    • Gender analysis shows girls remain overwhelmingly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI images in 2025, though there is a small increase in boys appearing. Age profiles reveal a disturbing rise in depictions of infants: images of 0–2-year-olds surged from 5 in 2024 to 92 in 2025, while older age brackets saw reductions.

    Each ‘report’ the IWF receives refers to a webpage or URL – each of which may contain one, or multiple, images or videos of child sexual abuse. A webpage only needs to contain a single confirmed image or video of child sexual abuse for the IWF to take action to have it removed.

    The image by image analysis refers to individual images and videos which the IWF has discovered (hence the higher numbers). Each number is an individual image or video – allowing for a more granular break down of age/sex/severity of the abuse in the imagery.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement of G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Niagara Region [November 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement of G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Niagara Region [November 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 November 2025.

    Joint Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the High Representative of the EU.

    We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met under Canada’s G7 Presidency, in Niagara, on November 11-12, 2025. We welcomed the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, and Ukraine, who joined us for discussions on maritime security and prosperity, critical minerals, economic resilience and energy security.

    Ukraine’s long-term prosperity, security and defence

    We reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence.

    We reiterated that an immediate ceasefire is urgently needed. We agreed that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.

    We are increasing the economic costs to Russia, and exploring measures against countries and entities that are helping finance Russia’s war efforts.

    We condemned the provision to Russia of military assistance by DPRK and Iran, and the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a decisive enabler of Russia’s war.

    We acknowledged the ongoing discussions on a wide range of financing options, including further leveraging immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets in our jurisdictions in a coordinated way to support Ukraine.

    We strongly condemned Russia’s recent direct attacks on energy infrastructure and reaffirmed our support for Ukraine’s energy security.

    Peace and stability in the Middle East

    We reiterated our strong support for President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. We welcomed the ceasefire and the release of hostages. We stressed the urgency of returning the remains of deceased hostages. We also welcomed the increased flows of aid, but expressed concern about restrictions that remain in place. We called on all parties to allow for humanitarian assistance without interference at scale, through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions and INGOs, as stipulated in President Trump’s plan.

    It is vital that all parties continue to engage constructively on the next steps outlined in the Comprehensive Plan, in pursuit of a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples that advances comprehensive Middle East peace and stability.  We will also continue to maintain attention on the situation in the West Bank.

    We urged Iran to fully implement its obligations both under UN Security Council resolutions and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Iran must resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, including enabling inspections of all nuclear facilities and materials. We called on Iran to engage in direct talks with the United States, supported by the E3. We continue to call on all UN member states to adhere to their obligations following the legal implementation of the snapback mechanism.

    Regional security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific

    We reaffirmed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. We reiterated our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in particular by force or coercion, including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

    We expressed serious concern over the use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons in the South China Sea, as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea.  We reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, binding upon the parties.

    We emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, particularly by force or coercion. We encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through constructive dialogue. We also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.

    We remain concerned about China’s military build-up and rapid increase of nuclear weapons arsenal and call on Beijing to demonstrate its commitment to stability through improved transparency.

    We strongly condemned the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.  We expressed grave concern over the DPRK’s cryptocurrency thefts.  We urged DPRK to resolve the abductions issue expeditiously.

    Haiti

    We stressed the need for voluntary personnel and financial contributions to implement UNSC Resolution 2793. We urged the Haitian authorities to present a concrete plan and timeline toward free and fair elections. We welcomed the launch of a Regional Maritime Security Initiative to address transnational organized crime and foster greater stability and resilience in Haiti and the Caribbean through improved maritime security.

    Sudan

    We strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence and attacks that are often ethnically-motivated, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against unarmed civilians and aid workers, particularly in El Fasher and North Kordofan. We deplore the devastating impact of this war on civilians including the famine that has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence. We urged the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to respect human rights, de-escalate, commit to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and ensure rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance.  We expressed our support for diplomatic efforts underway to restore peace and security and called upon external actors to contribute to that end.

    Eastern DRC

    We remain deeply concerned by ongoing violence and reports of human rights violations in eastern DRC, including conflict-related sexual violence. We called on all parties to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. We urged all parties to engage in good faith in the peace process, to deliver lasting peace and security, in line with UNSC Resolution 2773. We called on parties to uphold commitments to fully implement the June 27 Peace Agreement and July 19 Declaration of Principles. We welcomed the Paris Conference on peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, held on October 30, 2025.  

    Migration

    We noted the serious impact of conflict and instability on affected countries and regions, as well as on broader regional and international security, undermining growth and development, lessening opportunity and driving displacement and irregular migration. We committed to take up these issues at a future G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

    Maritime security and prosperity

    Maritime security and prosperity are fundamental to global stability, economic resilience, and the well-being of all nations. We reaffirm the principles reflected in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

    We recalled the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity, adopted in Charlevoix, Quebec on March 14, 2025. We welcomed the work carried out by the members of the  G7 NB8++ Shadow Fleet Task Force.

    We reiterated our commitment to strengthen G7 coordination with partners to prevent the use of unregistered or fraudulently registered, uninsured and substandard vessels engaged in sanctions evasion, risky navigation practices, arms transfers, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, illicit trade, and maritime crime. 

    We reaffirmed our shared commitment to address hybrid threats, including activity against critical undersea infrastructure, and to strengthening partnership in securing maritime ports and routes against the trafficking of illegal drugs.

    Economic resilience, energy security and critical minerals

    Building on the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, the G7 Roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals and the Production Alliance, we are pursuing partnerships that drive economic development, innovation, resilient and sustainable supply chains, and shared prosperity and security beyond the G7.

    We expressed particular concern with the use of non-market policies and practices to disrupt critical minerals supply chains, as well as other forms of market distortions including overcapacity. In this regard, we welcome the results of the recent U.S. – China discussions and discourage any future policy impediments to predictable trade, including in critical minerals.

    G7 members agreed to pursue concrete initiatives, jointly with partners, to address vulnerabilities by reducing our dependencies, and strengthening our collective economic resilience and security.