UK charters flight to leave Lebanon on Sunday as conflict escalates

The UK has chartered a flight to leave Beirut on Sunday (Oct 6) as tensions in the region escalate. There are no more scheduled flights, due to a decrease in demand. However, the situation will be kept under constant review.  Any remaining British nationals who want to leave Lebanon are urged to register with the Government immediately. The Government has been advising British […]

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Modern slavery and human trafficking: UK statement to OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, 2024

Thank you Madame Moderator. And thank you to the panellists for their insightful presentations.  The United Kingdom believes that international coordination is critical to tackling trafficking in human beings. Conflict, humanitarian crises, irregular migration, and the devastating impacts of climate change are all contributing to growing numbers of people in modern slavery and subject to […]

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The evidence of Russia’s violations of international humanitarian law is substantial and growing: UK statement to the OSCE

Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, colleagues. This year we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Born out of the horrors of the Second World War, they are a recognition that, even in times of hostilities, there must be limits on the suffering that we inflict upon our […]

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Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field for Open and Fair Competition and Sustainable Development

Published 8 October 2021 Last updated 3 October 2024 + show all updates 3 October 2024 Agenda added for the fourth meeting on 9 October 2024. 12 January 2024 Minutes added for the third meeting on 4 October 2023. 2 October 2023 Added agenda for meeting on 4 October 2023. 12 January 2023 Page updated to […]

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FCDO’s Work and Opportunities for Women programme

About the programme The objective of the WOW programme is to improve economic opportunities for women working in global value chains, increasing participation and ensuring dignified, equal and empowering work.   The 7-year programme, running until March 2025, aims to enhance the economic empowerment of women by supporting businesses, organisations and programmes that are ready and […]

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Independent Afghan journalists and media organizations win 2024 Canada-U.K. Media Freedom Award

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 […]

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The Russian Federation’s malign activities and interference: UK statement to the OSCE, September 2024

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 […]

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Statement: Meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and Argentina

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 […]

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The Kremlin could never have envisaged how war in Ukraine is developing: UK statement to the OSCE

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 […]

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UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on the Russian Federation

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 […]

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