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Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

The UK at the United Nations Security Council

Status: Closed Opened: 11 Mar 2025 Closed: 1 Dec 2025 25 recommendations 18 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry considers how effectively the UK uses its position at the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) to influence and bring about an end to global conflict, whilst advancing its goals for a rules-based international order. It will focus on countries for which the UK is a ‘Penholder’ at the UN. This includes (but is … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - The write to protect: Britain’s pen on the wor… HC 930 21 Sep 2025 43 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
29 Conclusion 2nd Report - The write to protect: Brit… Rejected

No substantive United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Myanmar since 2022.

We note with concern that despite increasing violence and reports of human rights violations, there has been no substantive resolution on Myanmar passed by the United Nations Security Council since 2022. (Conclusion, Paragraph 99)

Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the committee's conclusion, highlighting its consistent efforts as UN Security Council penholder on Myanmar. They state the UK secured a significant political resolution in 2022, and has since convened numerous ad-hoc meetings and led negotiations on a unified press statement, demonstrating …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
30 Recommendation 2nd Report - The write to protect: Brit… Rejected

Raise Myanmar's profile as penholder, introduce regular reporting, and work with regional actors.

It is critical that the UK continues to raise the profile of Myanmar in all its efforts as penholder for this file at the United Nations Security Council. The Government should introduce regular mandated reporting on this conflict. The Government should also work with regional actors, including the regional organisation, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation, stating there is insufficient support for mandated reporting at the UN Security Council. They instead highlight existing efforts, such as securing the 2022 resolution, convening ad-hoc meetings, and leading press statements, to maintain a focus on Myanmar and work …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
35 Recommendation 2nd Report - The write to protect: Brit… Rejected

Detail process for balancing national interest with UN penholder obligations on file responsibility

The Government, in its response, should detail the process by which national interest is weighed against obligations as penholder at the United Nations when assuming responsibility for a file, with reference to its responsibility for the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict file. (Recommendation, Paragraph 114) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation to detail its process for weighing national interest against penholder obligations. It explains that its national interest aligns with seeking progress on protecting civilians in armed conflict and that it remains steadfast in upholding international humanitarian law and advocating …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
15 Jul 2025 Freya Jackson · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), The Lord Collins of Highbury · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) View ↗
1 Jul 2025 Martin Griffiths · United Nations, Richard Gowan · International Crisis Group View ↗
23 Jun 2025 Sir Mark Lyall Grant · United Nations View ↗

Who gave evidence

5 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Freya Jackson · Director for Multilateral and Human Rights Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 1
Martin Griffiths · Former Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian A… United Nations 1
Richard Gowan · Director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy International Crisis Group 1
Sir Mark Lyall Grant · Former UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative… United Nations 1
The Lord Collins of Highbury · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 1