Author: HM Government

The 2024 Canada-U.K. Media Freedom Award has been presented today to independent Afghan journalists and media organizations for their courageous reporting despite restrictions imposed by the Taliban.  The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and H.E. Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa) of the United Kingdom, presented the […]

Thank you Madam Chair.      The United States has just informed this Council of steps it has taken to defend its democratic institutions in the face of a covert foreign influence operation by the Russian Federation. This follows other participating States’ interventions in this Council to highlight multiple forms of malign interference across our region in recent […]

Looking forward to a new era of constructive cooperation within the bilateral relationship, characterised by improved dialogue and confidence-building measures, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, Diana Mondino, met in New York on 24 September and made progress towards a broad agenda covering […]

Thank you, Mr Chair. The present situation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is one that the Kremlin could hardly have envisaged when it embarked on its devasting war of aggression. Russia boasted that Ukraine would be defeated in a three-day lightning war, yet today marks two years and 219 days of this […]

Merci Monsieur President, and welcome to the Special Rapporteur. Let me thank her for her report this morning. It’s a sobering picture in which she depicts a worsening human rights situation. And it’s clear what we’ve seen over the last year is a widespread and systemic application of oppressive legislation to further strengthen the Russian […]

Thank you, Madam Vice President.   We regret that due to timetabling problems, the Commissioners could not be here this morning. If they had been, I would have thanked them for their latest report, which clearly highlights the horrific violations and abuses Syrians continue to endure. Of all the horrors of this conflict, one of […]

Domestic violence Domestic violence or abuse is also known as “intimate partner violence” and is defined as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. The term domestic violence or abuse covers a range of abusive behaviours which includes, but is not limited […]

Thank you, President. I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. President, I refer colleagues to the General Conference document 68/19 circulated on 11 September which reiterated our concerns regarding the addition of this political agenda item by one Member State. Australia, the United Kingdom and […]

First, the United Kingdom is gravely concerned by ongoing conflict and devastation within Syria and the risks this presents for the stability of the entire region. It must not be forgotten.  The regime and its backers continue to exploit this instability for their own gain. In a single attack last week, regime forces injured three […]

The UK requested this Council meeting following alarming reports of escalation around El Fasher. I would like to make three points. First, we strongly condemn the Rapid Support Forces’ assault on El Fasher. We call on the RSF to halt its siege of the area and for an immediate end to the fighting. Aerial bombardments, […]