Andrew Mitchell: The FCDO engages systematically with partners, such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and regularly discusses treatment of refugees, including family reunification. The UK actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. We...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We stand firmly with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for an end to the unacceptable infringement on the democratic rights of the people of Niger. The crisis in Niger and resultant border closures have led to blockages of food,...
Andrew Mitchell: We welcomed the progress made by the Sudanese transitional government from 2019 to 2021, which included decriminalising apostasy, declaring Christmas a national holiday and lifting public order laws that disproportionately affected Christian women. However, we are aware that these significant steps taken to improve religious freedom have stalled since 2021. In May this year, following the...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. We stand firmly with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for an end to the unacceptable infringement on the democratic rights of the people of Niger. The UK has suspended long-term development assistance to Niger, though we continue...
Lord Purvis of Tweed: ...other statistics. These are programmes which have been either reduced massively or cut altogether, and the UK was the global leader in support for them. The International Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell, reported to Parliament’s International Development Committee and revealed how much the reduced funding was affecting climate programmes. For example, the international forest unit...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government strongly condemns any instances of enforced disappearances. We urge states to fully investigate any allegations and prosecute those responsible, in order to provide justice to victims and their families. The UK works through the multilateral system, including the UN, to address these crimes, highlighting concerns and working with others to end these abhorrent practices....
Andrew Mitchell: The UK is committed to championing universal health coverage (UHC). In the 2019 Political Declaration on UHC, United Nations Member States committed to promote healthy and active ageing and to respond to the needs of ageing populations. We are working with other Member States to retain and build on that commitment at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting. We continue to work with country partners...
Andrew Mitchell: We fully support the three areas set out in the Age International Report. Health systems that deliver the full spectrum of health services from health promotion to palliative care, are responsive to the needs of all citizens, particularly through quality primary health care, and are grounded in a rights-based approach that promote participation and accountability, are essential for global...
Andrew Mitchell: As set out in FCDO's Health Systems Strengthening Position Paper, health systems will need to continuously adapt, including for demographic changes such as ageing populations and growing youth generations. The UK will be advocating for renewed commitment to universal health coverage at the High-Level Meeting, including through scaling up investment of primary health care, stepping up efforts...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK condemns the unconstitutional military takeovers of power in Gabon and Niger. We stand behind the efforts of regional actors to restore constitutional government in both countries. There is currently no increased threat to UK security, however HMG assess that terrorist violence in Niger is highly likely to increase in the next 24 months as a result of the coup. This may have knock-on...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK's £1 billion pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria's seventh replenishment will help the Global Fund and its partners provide TB treatment and care for 1.1 million people. The Global Fund allocates funding to countries according to need. The decision on how much of that funding each country allocates to TB rests with the countries themselves. The UK is...
Andrew Mitchell: The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Fiona Bruce, as chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, is working to bolster international action on FoRB and seeking to improve the safety of persecuted religious minorities. At the UK-led Ministerial Conference on FoRB last year, we announced funding to support FoRB defenders, and provide...
Andrew Mitchell: The Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme initially operated in 27 countries. In response to budgetary re-prioritisation and contextual changes (such as the security situation in Afghanistan), adjustments were made to the scale and pace of delivery. This included focusing support on 17 countries to ensure better value for money and coherence. Despite these changes, the WISH...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK commends Zimbabwean voters for their peaceful participation in Zimbabwe's recent elections. However, the UK shares the views expressed in International Election Observation Mission preliminary statements that the pre-election period and election day fell short of regional and international standards. The UK is also concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the compiling of...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK is committed to championing universal health coverage (UHC). In the 2019 Political Declaration on UHC, United Nations Member States committed to promote healthy and active ageing and to respond to the needs of ageing populations. We have been with other Member States to retain and build on that commitment at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting. We continue to work with country partners,...
Andrew Mitchell: I engaged with a range of international and regional actors in advance of Zimbabwe's elections to underline the importance of their peacefulness and credibility. This included discussions with the Commonwealth Secretary General on 27 July and the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and Angola's Foreign Minister on 8 August. During my visit to the region in May, I discussed the elections with...
Andrew Mitchell: FCDO officials continue to provide consular support to Mr Kanu, and visited him most recently on 15 August 2023. Consular officials also remain in regular contact with representatives of Mr Kanu in the United Kingdom and in Nigeria. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Kanu's case with the then Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14 March 2023. The British High Commissioner in Abuja also...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. As seen in Mali, Burkina Faso, and now Niger, the erosion of democracy exacerbates conflict, violence, and instability. HMG assess that terrorist violence in Niger is highly likely to increase in the next 24 months as a result of the coup alone. This may have knock-on impacts for...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace, and stability in Niger. We continue to stand by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and their efforts to pursue all means to bring about a peaceful resolution. We are also engaging with partners including the French. The Foreign Secretary spoke to his counterpart, the French Foreign...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK champions UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2417 on conflict and hunger which enables reporting and early warnings to the UNSC when parties to conflict are blocking access to humanitarian support and destroying assets. It is a UK priority to prevent conflict-induced hunger and famine, and we use our seat at the UNSC to implement 2417 and urge swift action when a white note is...
