Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 18th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to (1) support the UN Secretary-General’s appeal on 23 March and reiterated on 3 April for a global ceasefire in response to COVID-19, and (2) ensure that appeal does not lose momentum, given the current overall levels of violence worldwide.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 25th June 2020

The UK supports the UN Secretary-General's call for an immediate global ceasefire in armed conflicts. We have made that support clear at the UN Security Council, and in joint statements with other UN member states as part of the Groups of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and Children and Armed Conflict on 30 March, and the Protection of Civilians on 27 May.

The UK recognises the necessary role of counter terrorism operations, to protect civilian populations and prevent terror groups from using the Covid-19 pandemic to their advantage. We are deeply concerned about the impact that Covid-19 will have on vulnerable countries, particularly those tackling extreme poverty. We continue to work within the UN Security Council to promote initiatives which will build on the global ceasefire and marshal support for UN efforts to take forward peace processes and mitigate risks of conflict escalation.

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