Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Co-penholding strengthens UK soft power and builds alliances through shared UNSC expertise.
Conclusion
Sharing the pen allows for Elected Members to the United Nations Security Council to actively partake in the penholder process and to learn from the UK’s expertise as a convening actor in diplomacy and as a leader in the global resolution of conflict. Furthering such relationships would strengthen the UK’s soft power and may lead to the formation of new alliances. (Conclusion, Paragraph 72)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response explains its ongoing commitment and actions as a UN Security Council penholder to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law, stating its national interest aligns with these efforts. It does not directly address the benefits of co-penholding or how it might strengthen UK soft power and alliances.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Disagree. 32. HMG has championed broad and thorough engagement when penholding. As a matter of principle, we consult widely on all UK-penned UN Security Council products from the outset, with a particular focus on countries whose interests are most affected or whose diplomatic influence is most germane to resolving a particular conflict. The UK has championed co-penning in recent years, and we engage with relevant Member States when and where we feel a UN Security Council product would benefit from being co-penned, taking every effort to ensure that products being negotiated in the Council are informed and empowered by relevant voices. For example, numerous press statements drafted and negotiated jointly with the African members, including on Libya and Sudan, and the UK-Sierra Leone draft resolution on protection of civilians in Sudan. However, co-penning is not appropriate for every agenda item, and we therefore do not agree with the Committee that the UK should take a “one size fits all” approach.
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