UK backs permanent seat for Africa at UNSC

MORE good news. Maybe UK Gov’s been here looking for great ideas :)

Report at yahoo! movies

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Published Thursday 29 June 2023, 1:30 pm BST - here is a full copy:

UK backs permanent seat for Africa at UN Security Council

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for an expanded UN Security Council, with permanent representation from Africa (HENRY NICHOLLS)

The UK on Thursday announced its backing for an expanded UN Security Council, including a permanent spot for Africa, to reflect the current and future state of the world.

"We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan," said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

"I know this is a bold reform. But it will usher the Security Council into the 2020s," he told the Chatham House foreign affairs think-tank in London.

The UK is a permanent member of the Security Council with China, France, Russia and the United States, and sits with 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN general assembly for two-year terms.

US President Joe Biden has previously signalled his support for an expanded UN Security Council with African representation, and giving the African Union a permanent spot in the G20.

He has also outlined his backing for a permanent seat for Latin America, and supported bids from Japan and India.

Developing nations have long complained about not having a say on the council, where the five permanent members wield veto power, and argued the imbalance risked making the body obsolete.

But so far, repeated calls for reform have come to nothing, and experts doubt that the permanent five will give up their powers, despite the persuasive argument for change.

Cleverly's backing for an expanded body came in a speech calling for a "reinvigorated multilateral system", to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century.

Multilateral agreements such as the UN charter of 1945 had served the world well since then, on issues from nuclear non-proliferation to climate change, he said.

But there was no guarantee of their survival for the same period of time into the future, particularly with challenges such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Cleverly called the Kremlin's military action "a calculated assault on the UN Charter" and on the principles of the rules-based international order.

The geo-political and global economic centre of gravity was shifting from Europe and North America towards the Indo-Pacific region.

Demographic changes also put Africa in the ascendancy, making it more important than ever to give countries there a voice on the issues that affect them, such as tackling debt, poverty and climate change, he added.

The overhaul also needed to be extended to the World Trade Organization to reflect the digital economy, and international financial institutions to address climate finance and debt reduction, he added.

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View original: https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/uk-backs-permanent-seat-africa-123017933.html

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UK urges for UN Reforms, backs India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council

UN reform is long overdue. UNSC needs permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan. Read more.

Report at Republic World - www.republicworld.com
Written by Press Trust Of India
Published Friday 30 June 2023, 17:17 IST - here is a full copy:

UK urges for UN Reforms, backs India's bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC

The UK government has reiterated its call for reform of the United Nations as one of its top transnational priorities and supported India's bid for permanent membership of the powerful Security Council.

United Nations Security Council (Image: AP/File Photo)

The UK government has reiterated its call for reform of the United Nations as one of its top transnational priorities and supported India's bid for permanent membership of the powerful Security Council.

India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UN Security Council (UNSC), saying it rightly deserved a place as a permanent member of the United Nations.

Currently, the UNSC has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Only a permanent member has the power to veto any substantive resolution.

In a speech at a conference at the Chatham House think tank in London on Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for a reinvigorated multilateral system that is more reflective of the times.

He pointed out that the world’s economic centre of gravity is shifting away from the Euro-Atlantic and towards the Indo-Pacific but the multilateral institutions are yet to catch up.

“I have five transnational priorities. First, reform of the United Nations Security Council. We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan,” said Cleverly.

“I know this is a bold reform. But it will usher the Security Council into the 2020s. And the UNSC has grown before – albeit not since 1965. My second priority is reform of the international financial institutions. This matters for climate finance and, of course, for poverty reduction,” he said.

The minister also hailed India’s leadership role with its presidency of the G20 in pitching for representation of poorer nations on the world stage.

“It seems obvious to me that the voice of the poorest and most vulnerable countries must be heard at the heart of the multilateral system. That’s why we support permanent membership of the G20 for the African Union and welcome India’s leadership on taking this forward,” he said.

Among the other priorities for the UK, Cleverly highlighted making finance easier and quicker to access and maximise the impact of that investment.

He also stressed that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) desperately needs new rules that reflect today’s digital economy to make trade policy “free, fair, open and not manipulated or distorted”.

He spelt out another top priority as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing have the potential to transform humankind’s problem-solving capabilities.

“I will chair the UN Security Council’s first-ever meeting on this issue, in New York next month. And the Prime Minister [Rishi Sunak] will host an AI summit this autumn,” said Cleverly. 

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UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss condemns military coup in Sudan - Calls for release of all detainees

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has condemned the military coup in Sudan and called on the military to place the democratic transition back on course.

From:

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Published Friday 5 November 2021

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

The United Kingdom strongly condemns the military coup in Sudan on 25 October. In 2019, the Sudanese agreed on a unique partnership between civilians and military in order to steer Sudan’s transition to full democracy. That partnership delivered huge progress, from abolishing oppressive laws to economic reforms and the Juba Peace agreement to help end decades of conflict.

The military’s unilateral actions threaten all of these gains. In detaining civilian politicians and activists, and unilaterally amending the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, the military have undermined the spirit and letter of both that hard-won 2019 compromise, and also the Juba Peace Agreement. The Sudanese people have taken to the streets in their millions in recent days to reject these actions. International condemnation has been fast and widespread.

It is still however possible for Sudan’s transition to get back on course. The United Kingdom welcomes and supports mediation efforts and urge the military to engage in a spirit of compromise. We note the release of four detainees on 4 November, but call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained since 25 October, the restoration of the Constitutional Declaration as a starting point for dialogue, and for security forces to respect the right to peaceful protest.

The United Kingdom will continue to support the Sudanese people in their demands for freedom, peace and justice. The military have the opportunity to put the transition back on course; the United Kingdom urges them to do so now.

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 5 November 2021

View original:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-condemns-military-coup-in-sudan

العربية

UK's Simon Manley @UN_HRC: Sudan's civilian-led govt must be restored, detainees freed, and human rights respected

This afternoon the @UN_HRC sent a strong, clear and united message: that Sudan’s civilian-led government must be restored, detainees freed, and human rights respected.

My thanks to our 🇩🇪🇳🇴🇺🇸 partners and all those delegations who worked so intensively with us this week. pic.twitter.com/OQOptVbUks

— Simon Manley (@SimonManleyFCDO) November 5, 2021

UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Sudan - Adoption of draft resolution HRC/S-32/L.1

Speech. UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Sudan: Adoption of the resolution. Simon Manley, UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, delivered the UK statement during the UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Sudan.

From:

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Simon Manley CMG

Published on: Friday 5 November 2021

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Delivered on: Friday 5 November 2021 

(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Photo: Simon Manley CMG the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, United Nations and other International Organisations based in Geneva

Thank you Madam President.

On behalf of the Core Group consisting of Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, I am is pleased to introduce this draft resolution HRC / S-32 / L.1, as orally revised. The oral revisions have been posted on e-delegate.

Madam President,

Swift, effective and strong action by this Council in response to the military takeover of 25 October in Sudan, is the reason we and others called for today’s Special Session.

The draft resolution we present today, in our view, achieves that. It has been the product of extensive consultations over the last few days, including with Sudan as the country concerned, the African Group, and other delegations. We are deeply grateful to all those who have worked with us so constructively and intensively on the draft resolution that we have before us today.

Madam President, this draft resolution delivers three key outcomes:

First, it condemns in the strongest possible terms the military takeover of 25 October in Sudan, and joins the calls made elsewhere, including by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council, for the immediate restoration of its civilian-led government, and the release of all those detained arbitrarily, since the takeover began.

Second, it requests the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to update the Council, at its next regular Session, on the human rights situation since the takeover. The continued excellent work of the OHCHR Country Office in Khartoum will be crucial to achieving this.

Third, the Council requests the High Commissioner to designate an Expert on Human Rights in Sudan, who will provide further monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation since the takeover, and present a comprehensive written report to the Council at its 50th session. The term of office of this Expert on Human Rights in Sudan, will conclude upon the restoration of its civilian led government. This restoration should be immediate.

Madam President,

The Core Group understands that this text enjoys the support of the country concerned, and of the African Group following our intensive consultations.

Accordingly, we hope that all States, members and non-members alike, will support wholeheartedly this resolution. In doing so, the Council will demonstrate clearly that it stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan in their struggle for democracy and human rights.

Thank you

Published 5 November 2021

View original: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/un-human-rights-council-special-session-on-sudan-adoption-of-the-resolution

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