David Rutley: ...several times with the Egyptian Ambassador, most recently on 10 July and also raised it with Foreign Minister Shoukry during his visit to Cairo on 4 April. The Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, raised the case with the Egyptian authorities on 25 May during his visit to Cairo. The Government continues to make every effort in our engagement with the Egyptian authorities...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK is working with the UN and partners across Africa to protect the UN charter and insist on the end of Russia's illegal invasion. On 1 June the Foreign Secretary spoke with South Africa's Foreign Minister to discuss South Africa's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We understand South Africa's long-held non-alignment policy and we encourage South Africa to follow its own principles...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK is committed to supporting women in Iran by ensuring the Iranian regime is held to account. We do this in part through our sanctions. HMG has announced nine rounds of Iran human rights sanctions since October 2022. We also work closely with our international partners including to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2022. We raise human rights directly with the...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK strongly condemns the deliberate attacks and human rights abuses against civilians in West Darfur, Sudan. We are pursuing all diplomatic avenues, including through the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council and cooperation with counterparts from Africa, the Quad (KSA, UAE, UK, US) and European countries to end the violence, secure safe humanitarian access, and hold those...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government strongly condemns the Government of Uganda's decision to sign the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 into law. To underline the strength of our opposition to the Act and highlight its impacts on the safety of LGBT+ people in Uganda, the Prime Minister has raised it with the Ugandan Foreign Minister, the Foreign Secretary with the Ugandan High Commissioner, and I have raised it with...
Andrew Mitchell: The Bi-Annual Report on the Government Hospitality Wine Cellar for 2020-2022 will be published in the autumn. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the Written Ministerial Statement has been released.
Andrew Mitchell: The UK is partnering with Somalia on its priorities of countering al-Shabaab and political reform, to build a more peaceful and stable country. In financial year 2022/23, the UK contributed £22.5 million to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and £8 million to the United Nations Support Office, which provide vital support to the Somali security forces in the fight against...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK spent over £1.4 billion on international climate finance over the course of the 2021-22 financial year, supporting developing countries to reduce poverty and respond to the causes and impacts of climate change. Figures for 2022-23 and subsequent years will be published in due course.
Andrew Mitchell: The FCDO supports the global research organisation, the CGIAR (formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), to deliver the agriculture science and innovation needed to support effective responses to climate and conflict. This includes developing and scaling more productive, nutritious and climate-resilient crop varieties. The CGIAR has delivered...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government recognises the importance and benefits of creating a more equitable and transparent global research ecosystem, including for health. This is the drive behind the 'Open Science for Global Resilience' campaign announced in April 2023. Whilst we have world leading open access levels, we are stepping up our efforts. This is reflected in our investments in policies for data...
Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government acknowledges the severe morbidity women face from gynaecological conditions and the distress these conditions can cause. In 2021, we launched our Ending Preventable Deaths for mothers, babies and children approach. This centres the importance of working with our international counterparts to strengthen health systems and progress sexual and reproductive health and rights,...
Andrew Mitchell: African countries are amongst the least responsible for causing climate change, yet it is having a devastating impact. The UK is committed to working with African partners to drive long-term climate action; I discussed climate change when I visited Egypt in May 2023 for meetings of the African Development Bank. We will continue to work closely with the African Union Commission and Government...
Andrew Mitchell: African countries are amongst the least responsible for causing climate change, yet it is having a devastating impact. The UK is committed to working with African partners to drive long-term climate action and will be represented at the Africa Climate Action Summit in September.
Andrew Mitchell: The FCDO continues to support higher education for Afghans, offering Afghan candidates resident outside of Afghanistan the opportunity to apply for a Chevening scholarship. Under the Chevening Scholarship programme, seven Afghan women studied in the UK during the academic year 2022/23 (out of a total cohort of 19). Scholarships have been offered to 13 Afghan women (out of a total cohort of...
Andrew Mitchell: The Government will publish an International Development White Paper later this year. It will set out how the UK will lead the charge against extreme poverty and climate change in a changing world. The FCDO global health directorate will engage with this process. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are central to the UK's international development agenda. SRHR features strongly...
Andrew Mitchell: The International Development Association's 21st (IDA21) replenishment negotiations will commence in 2024. The IDA21 replenishment package should meet the challenge in IDA countries. The $93 billion International Development Association 20th (IDA20) replenishment was the largest in IDA's history. The UK is the third largest IDA20 donor, with £1.4 billion pledged.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: ...under international humanitarian law. It is essential that lifesaving humanitarian aid is allowed to reach those in harder-to-reach areas, such as Darfur. The Minister for Development and Africa [Andrew Mitchell] announced that the UK will provide £21.7 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan. This follows an earlier announcement of £5 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and...
Andrew Mitchell: The FCDO has no recorded spend for the Lord Mayor of London's Overseas Engagement Programme. Any support by FCDO officials toward the organisation of this programme since 2010, will be minimal and not accounted for separately.
Andrew Mitchell: We are pursuing all diplomatic avenues, including at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, and through cooperation with counterparts from African, Quad (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America) and European countries, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the United Nations, to end the violence in...
Andrew Mitchell: In response to the ongoing conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, I announced on 12 July a UK package of six sanctions under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. We are freezing the assets of three commercial entities linked to each party involved in the conflict: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These sanctions, which...
