LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Mr Vice President, The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Five years after the Taliban's return to power, we remain deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan. The Taliban's systematic restrictions on women and girls have deprived them of opportunities that many of us take for granted: the freedom to learn, to work, to move freely and to participat...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Prime Minister spoke with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, this afternoon. The Prime Minister began by setting out his intention for the UK and Mauritius to work closely together. He noted the clear benefits the two countries could bring to each other across a range of shared objectives, including tacklingclimate change, combatting illicit finance, and boosting growth and trade, as they lo...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued text of the following speech: It is really fantastic to be back here at NY Climate Week, I can honestly say to you, this is my second favourite Climate Week in the world, after London of course. No really, it is fantastic to be here, and look, I think the first thing I want to say is to sound a note of optimism, because despite challenging political times, it is set to be the case that in 2026 we're going to see $2.2 trillion doll...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued text of the following speech: The United Kingdom thanks the Fact-Finding Mission for its report. We remain horrified by the dire human rights situation in Iran. The Mission's findings regarding the violent repression of peaceful protests that began in December, including the use of lethal force against those who posed no imminent threat, such as children, are particularly alarming. The crackdown was the deadliest in the Islamic R...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued text of the following speech: Thank you, Special Rapporteur. Your report's findings are stark, and demonstrate that the Kremlin's system of domestic repression is extending beyond the country's borders. The UK condemns the continued deterioration in the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record. The international community has a shared responsibility to protect and promote the values it upholds. We are concerned but not surpri...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued text of the following speech: Thank you, Mr Vice-President. We remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Nicaragua. The report describes a troubling concentration of executive power and erosion of the separation of powers. Proposed constitutional reforms will further centralise power and weaken institutional checks and balances. The report also highlights continued restrictions on civic and democratic space. We are...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: More councils will be able to bring forward ambitious affordable housing plans thanks to a £21.8 million boost to the Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF). Available until March 2029, the revenue funding will help local authorities build the skills, capacity and partnerships needed to develop strong bids for the Social andAffordable Homes Programme (SAHP). Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: Counc...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Thank you, Mr Vice-President. The United Kingdom thanks the experts for their report and also welcomes the continued engagement of OHCHR in Venezuela. We welcome the progress made in Venezuela in recent months. We have seen important confidence building measures, including the release of political prisoners and the start of dialogue between the Venezuelan authorities and representatives of the opposition. We w...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Courtrooms for specialist rape and serious sex offences to be rolled out across every Crown Court in England and Wales * Rape cases will be prioritised in the courts, tackling uncertainty and delays for survivors, with specialist upgrades introduced, including private waiting rooms and entrances for victims * New approach will put victims front and centre of the criminal justice system Backed by a multi-milli...
LONDON, Sept. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Thank you, Mr Vice-President. The UK thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Ahead of Burundi's 2027 presidential election, his findings are concerning with reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and the shrinking of civic and political space. The UK calls on Burundi to protect the rights of all citizens to participate freely...