UN Human Rights Council 63: UK Statement for the Item 2 General Debate

UK Statement for the Item 2 General Debate. Delivered by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Location:

Geneva

Delivered on:

8 September 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Mr President,

In Syria, we welcome the steps taken by the government on its political transition, including convening a new parliament, addressing Assad-era legacies, and engaging the international community. But the situation remains delicate. We urge the government to proceed in an inclusive and representative way, protecting the rights of all Syrians.

In South Sudan, the human rights situation remains fragile, while developments cast doubt

UK Summons Serbian Chargé d'Affaires to the United Kingdom

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has today summoned the Serbian Chargé d'Affaires to condemn commemorations surrounding the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.

The UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, summoned the Serbian Chargé d’Affaires to condemn the involvement of Serbian state and military officials in the funeral of Ratko Mladić.   

Minster for Europe, Lord Wood of Anfield said:  

“As a military commander, Mladić presided over crimes that are among the worst

Foreign Secretary Oral Statement on Israel-Palestine

Foreign Secretary's oral statement to the House of Commons on Israel-Palestine as delivered.

Location:

House of Commons, London

Delivered on:

8 September 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Madame Deputy Speaker, with permission, I would like to make a statement on Israel and Palestine.

I do so as a proud British Jew, someone with the deepest gratitude to the State of Israel for giving a home to my grandmother after she lost her husband, my grandfather, and 60 other family members at the hands of the Nazis.

I remember visiting her in the 1970s in Tel Aviv and seeing the life and the sanctuary Israel

UK-backed programme supports sustainable livestock farming in Honduras

The UK-funded Mitigation Action Facility (MAF) is helping livestock producers in Honduras access green finance and adopt more sustainable farming practices.

During a visit to the municipality of Choluteca, British Ambassador to Honduras Juliana Correa met farming families benefiting from the programme and learned how investment, technical assistance and innovation are supporting more productive, resilient and lower-emission livestock systems. 

As part of the visit, 11 farming families received the first loans delivered through the project

Millions to be invested in next generation of legal talent

Britain’s brightest aspiring lawyers are to benefit from an ambitious new scheme designed to help train the next generation of criminal barristers.

• £1.5 million annual funding to help train aspiring legal talent
• 100 extra training places to help tear down barriers to the legal profession
• Part of Government’s plan to deliver a faster and fairer justice system

Launching on Tuesday 01 September, the Government has announced a multi-million-pound scheme to deliver up to 100 additional pupillages every year. The scheme will provide young people with the practical training required to become fully-fledged criminal barristers, who help deliver faster and fairer justice for victims.

The landmark scheme, backed by £1.5 million per year, will widen access to one of the

Fast-paced funding for force-protection innovation

UKDI seeks counter-Uncrewed Aerial System capabilities for development to deployment

• UKDI has launched a new Themed Competition called Project PANOPTES which seeks an integrated, Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) force-protection capability
• Open to UK based innovators
• This Themed Competition is run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
• The deadline for submissions to stage 1 is midday 23 September 2026 (BST)
• A share of £5 million is available immediately

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is pleased to launch a new Themed Competition called

Failed Senior Executive Hires Can Cost Businesses Up to $15m, New Leadership Book Warns

Author of Your First 60 Days Tess Cope

Your First 60 Days - The Missing Piece in Your Onboarding: A Systemic Approach for Senior Leaders by Tess Cope is published on Thursday 3rd September 2026

Acknowledgement of the past is key to a bright future, both for the company and for your own leadership brand.”

— Tess Cope, Author of Your First 60 Days

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- When a newly appointed senior executive fails, the cost to a business can run into millions of

Pink Corridor project to explore safety requirements of nuclear-powered transatlantic container shipping route

Graphic representing the pink corridor concept. Credit: Lloyd's Register

The project involves Lloyd’s Register, A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) and the ports of Charleston (US) and Felixstowe (UK).

The partnership brings together industry-leading players across shipping, ports and classification, reflecting the growing interest in nuclear technology as a route to sustainable maritime operations.”

— Nick Gross, Global Containerships Segment Director, LR

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Lloyd’s Register (LR), A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk), the Port of Charleston on the US east coast and the Port of Felixstowe, the largest container port in the UK, have

Nepal-China floods: what you can do to help

Information on how you can support people affected by the floods and mudslide on the Nepal-China border.

If you want to donate money to support those affected by the floods, there are trusted charities and organisations providing humanitarian relief on the ground.  

Donate to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Societies appeal in support of Nepal.

The UK government immediately announced a £5 million response package to support the most urgent humanitarian needs in Nepal.

Donating essential supplies

One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid

UK strengthens financial ties with Guatemala and Honduras

The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank brought together financial sector leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to discuss trade, investment and economic growth.

Neeraj Kapur, CEO of Crown Agents Bank, with Juliana Correa, His Majesty's Ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras.

The British Embassy, together with Crown Agents Bank (CAB), hosted executive breakfast discussions with financial sector leaders from Guatemala and Honduras. The meetings,

Part-time study routes becoming an increasingly important way for women to enter the UK's digital workforce.

Riaz Moola

Flexible online learning opening new pathways into UK tech careers for women

Flexible, applied, online education is how we widen the front door, and the women coming through it now are proof that the model works.”

— Riaz Moola

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As thousands of graduates leave UK campuses this summer and employers reassess what entry into a digital

Absolute Digital Media Shortlisted Four Times at the UK eCommerce Awards 2026

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, August 24, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Absolute Digital Media has been shortlisted in four categories at the UK eCommerce Awards 2026, with winners to be announced at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 30 September.

The agency holds two of the twelve places in the Best eCommerce SEO Campaign category,