Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The empowerment of women and girls is a top priority for the UK government, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are key to this. When women and girls around the world are able to have control over their lives and their own bodies, they can avoid a life of early, multiple and often dangerous pregnancies and births, and instead complete their education, take up better economic opportunities and fulfil their potential. The UK therefore prioritises bodily autonomy and the rights of women and girls in the development of SRHR policies, in line with the Guttmacher-Lancet integrated definition of comprehensive SRHR for all.

The UK is deeply concerned by the findings of the 2024 Hunger Hotspots report. We are the third largest government donor to the World Food Programme (WFP) and in 2024 have contributed over $600 million (£495 million) to WFP programmes, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Sudan, South Sudan and Haiti. In November 2024, the UK doubled its support for those affected by the war in Sudan and we committed £112 million to the OPTs this financial year. On 30 December 2024, the Minister for International Development announced further humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities, including up to £8 million for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The UK is closely monitoring the potential development of La Niña conditions and in particular the risk of food security impacts in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa.

The UK is a committed humanitarian donor, channelling over £277 million in Humanitarian Aid to the Africa region in 2023 and is already operating humanitarian programmes in those countries of concern highlighted in the Hunger Hotspots report. Those programmes are standing-by to adapt as required. On 22 August, Minister Dodds, Minister for Development, announced an additional £15 million of vital assistance to Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.

We have repeatedly used our position as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to call for a ceasefire, and for all warring parties to protect civilians in Sudan. On 13 June, the UNSC adopted UK-led resolution 2736 demanding a halt to the Rapid Support Forces' siege of El Fasher and requested the Secretary-General to provide recommendations on the protection of civilians. The UK is engaging with the UN on the development of those recommendations which will be released in October ahead of the next 120-day meeting on Sudan, just ahead of our Presidency of the UNSC in November. We will continue to work alongside our international partners, including those in the region, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU) to urge the warring parties to engage constructively to secure a ceasefire, protect civilians and open up humanitarian access.

The UK champions UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2417 which enables reporting and early warnings to the UN Security Council when parties to conflict are causing food insecurity and famine risk, including by blocking access to humanitarian support and destroying agriculture and food and water production systems. We use our seat at the Security Council to implement 2417 and urge swift action when such warnings are submitted. We did this when formal warnings were issued earlier this year on Gaza and Sudan. On 13 June, the UK penned UNSCR 2736 on Sudan, with specific calls to warring parties to withdraw fighters to enable agricultural activities throughout the planting season.

In October 2023, the Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led resolution to establish an international and Independent Fact-Finding Mission to investigate evidence of human rights abuses and violations in Sudan. Following publication of its first report in September, the UK co-led renewal on 9 October 2024 of the Fact-Finding Mission's mandate for a further year, with the Resolution passing by a higher vote margin this year. The UK continues to support the work of the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) to gather open-source evidence on the ongoing fighting, with a view to supporting future accountability efforts. We continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor's ongoing work to investigate the allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur. Our practical support to the ICC more broadly includes witness protection; sentence enforcement; commitment to the ICC's reform process; and work to ensure that the Court has the resources it needs to operate effectively.

The UK uses its position as penholder at the UN Security Council and leader of the Core Group on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the human rights situation in Sudan. In October 2023, the Human Right Council adopted the UK-led Resolution to establish an international and independent Fact-Finding Mission to investigate evidence of human rights abuses and violations. Following publication of its first report in September, the UK co-led renewal on 9 October 2024 of the Fact-Finding Mission's mandate for a further year, with the Resolution passing by a higher vote margin this year.

No final decisions have been taken for the Afghanistan Chevening programme for academic year 2025/26. We will provide an update on our website in due course.

Violent conflict, particularly in the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, has led to widespread human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary arrests, killings, torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearances. Whilst the situation in the Tigray region has significantly improved, two years after the end of conflict, we have yet to see whether a new transitional justice policy will correct the lack of accountability for human rights violations and abuses committed in Tigray and elsewhere. More broadly, whilst there is progress in social and economic areas, including access to health and education, civil society operates in a restrictive, shrinking environment.

The UK strives for the highest possible transparency in our nuclear doctrines, policies, and capabilities, including through our National Implementation Report mandated by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). As in past NPT review cycles, the UK intends to submit and make public its draft National Implementation Report at the third session of the NPT Preparatory Committee in 2025. We welcome feedback and discussion with other States Parties and civil society to ensure our final report to the Review Conference in 2026 is as useful as possible, including by holding a consultation exercise facilitated by Wilton Park.

There are more countries in the world today engaged in conflict than at any time since World War II. Preventing conflict and empowering women and girls is critical to the delivery of the government's missions. We are working to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence, including as vice chair of the International Alliance on PSVI (Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict) and by supporting thousands of survivors around the world.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Ministers will take decisions on envoys in due course and appointments of any new envoys will be announced publicly.

The UK government wants to strengthen our long-standing cooperation with Brazil on climate, energy, and nature. We are proud to be the third biggest contributor of climate finance to Brazil and are boosting our relationships with Brazilian ministers and officials. Last month, the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero visited Brazil and underlined the UK's ongoing commitment to work with the Brazilian government to realise our shared ambition on climate mitigation, finance, deforestation, and energy transition. The subsequent joint statement reaffirmed our collective desire to strengthen collaboration, including under the existing UK-Brazil Partnership for Green and Inclusive Growth and committed us to develop a Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on Climate.

We are committed to addressing global food insecurity and malnutrition. This includes the financing gap identified in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. We work to unlock climate finance, push multilateral development banks to stretch their balance sheets, provide technical assistance and finance to bring in more private sector investment, and support the reform of subsidies for more sustainable agriculture. This must be done in partnership. We will join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, to accelerate action and unlock finance, and support the G7 Apulia Food Systems Initiative which seeks innovative financing solutions.

The conflict in Sudan has created a manmade humanitarian disaster with 9.25 million people facing emergency or famine conditions. For the first time, over 755,000 people are projected to be at risk of famine (IPC 5). This financial year, UK bilateral ODA to Sudan will increase to £92 million, with a significant amount going towards humanitarian aid. UK support is being delivered through the UN and other trusted partners and is providing nutrition, safe drinking water, medical care and shelter. The UK also continues to pursue all diplomatic avenues to press the warring parties into a permanent ceasefire, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect civilians and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process.

The conflict in Sudan has created a manmade humanitarian disaster with 8.5 million people facing emergency or famine conditions. For the first time, over 755,000 people are projected to be at risk of famine (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 5). The UK is working with international partners, including the UN, other donors and humanitarian agencies, to improve and increase the delivery of aid into Sudan. The UK is also helping those fleeing to neighbouring countries, with £7.75 million to support existing and new Sudanese refugees as well as vulnerable returnees and host communities in South Sudan, and £15 million to Chad.

The UK delegation for the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week will be determined in the coming weeks. We expect broad attendance, reaffirming the UK's position as a strong supporter of multilateralism and the focus on delivering globally on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UK supports and works alongside international partners to press the parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect civilians, and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process. The UK will also continue to use its position as penholder at the UN Security Council to urge the warring parties to achieve a ceasefire, increase much-needed humanitarian assistance and access and ensure the protection of civilians. On 13 June, the UNSC adopted a UK-led resolution demanding a halt to the Rapid Support Forces' siege of El Fasher and calling on warring parties to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities and safe, unimpeded humanitarian access.

We note the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community. We work closely with international partners, including the US, and we continue to support mediation efforts and urge both warring parties to engage constructively to secure a ceasefire and prevent the conflict spreading further.

The UK, and Troika (US, Norway), continue to press for implementation of South Sudan's Peace Agreement and a peaceful transition to democracy. We will continue to support the UN Mission in Sudan, who are mandated to support preparations for elections, including through the provision of technical assistance to electoral institutions.The UK also uses its position as a permanent member in the UN Security Council to express concern about the lack of progress in fulfilling necessary electoral preconditions.