UK Statement for the Item 2 General Debate. Delivered by the UK's
Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.
"Mr President,
We are grateful for the High Commissioner's update.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains of serious concern. We
urge Israel to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage
of humanitarian aid in line with international law. We call on
all parties to implement the 20-point peace plan and respect the
ceasefire. In the West Bank, rising violence and settlement
activity risk instability and undermines prospects for peace.
Tanzania saw shocking violence following its elections in
October, including evidence of extra-judicial killings and
concealment of dead bodies. There must be an independent,
transparent and inclusive investigation of these events to ensure
accountability and that the fundamental freedoms and
constitutional rights of all Tanzanians are protected.
We appreciate your efforts to engage China, including on the
findings of his Office's Xinjiang Assessment from 2022. But we
are concerned by continued evidence of China's transition from
using re-education camps to using prisons and labour transfer
schemes. We call on China to address reports of forced labour,
and restrictions on religious and cultural freedoms; China must
release all arbitrarily detained individuals.
Finally, we support unequivocally Ukraine's sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity. We continue to support
the work of UN mechanisms and their reporting - those responsible
for violations and abuses of human rights must be held
accountable.
Thank you."
