Recommendation 8

HM Government Acknowledged

34. IR2023 acknowledges that the transition to a more contested world means traditional multilateral approaches and defending the ‘rules-based international system’ are no longer sufficient on their own. Russia is the most acute threat to the UK’s security and we have used our position in the multilateral system to respond robustly to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Our diplomatic efforts have led to: a) Isolating Russia on the world stage: Russia has been expelled from the Council of Europe, suspended from the Human Rights Council, and over 140 countries have repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. b) Pursuing accountability: with the largest ever group referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the situation in Ukraine, and the ICC issuing arrest warrants against President Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova. c) Securing international support for Ukraine: through supporting the UN, Red Cross, and World Bank in providing humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine; and co-hosting the next Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June, to mobilise international and private sector support for Ukraine’s recovery. 35. Beyond Russia, we seek to challenge other authoritarian states. We supported Iran’s suspension from the UN Commission on the Status of Women; joined the joint statement of 50 countries on the human rights situation in Xinjiang at the UN’s Third Committee and worked to secure the first UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution on Myanmar in more than seven decades. 36. IR2023 sets out that the UK will continue to support an open international order of enhanced cooperation and well-managed competition based on respect for the UN Charter and international law, shaping activity across strategic arenas where developments are most consequential for our national interests and the international order. We seek to do this by working closely with partners who share similar values, and challenging those who undermine the type of international order we want to see. 37. The UK uses the international human rights system to guide us in our obligations to promote and protect the human rights of all. We will continue to shine a spotlight on human rights violations. We offer advice and expertise to improve human rights adherence in countries across the world and continue to strengthen our partnerships with allies to protect rights. 38. We recognise that the multilateral system needs to change to accommodate new realities, and the UK will support reform of the UNSC to welcome Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members. We will also support permanent African representation in the UNSC, as well as further representation in other multilateral institutions including the G20. More widely, we work closely with likeminded partners to ensure that the UN works as effectively as possible. The UK is the permanent co-chair of the Geneva Group, an informal grouping of 17 UN members that share a common ambition to improve governance, management, and related reform initiatives across the UN system. 39. We also identify and support strong, merit-based candidates, both UK nationals and like-minded candidates from third countries, for multilateral roles. Where roles are contested through elections we prioritise across government and support our priority candidates with integrated international campaigns. For example, in 2022, we were successful in securing our priority election for a seat on the Council of the International Telecommunications Union, and supported the US to defeat the Russian candidate for the Secretary General Role.