Press release
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
Published 14 October 2022
Mr Chair,
I am delivering this statement on behalf of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and my own country, Canada.
On October 11th, the global community commemorated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl. In 2012, Canada tabled UNGA resolution 66/170 whereby states agreed to dedicate this day to celebrating the voices and power of girls, championing their rights worldwide, and reflecting on the challenges they continue to face because of their gender.
Over the past ten years, we have seen a growing recognition that the empowerment of and investment in girls is integral to achieving each of the Sustainable Development Goals. We have acknowledged repeatedly that the meaningful participation of girls in decisions that affect them is essential to breaking cycles of discrimination and violence. OSCE participating States have consistently underlined that gender equality and ending violence against women and girls is vital to fulfilling OSCE commitments. Through the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, we have accepted that it is impossible to achieve lasting peace if you exclude half of society from the process.
Over the past ten years, we have witnessed girls acting as agents of change in their communities and far beyond. They are leading the way as students, entrepreneurs, volunteers and activists, and proving that you are never too young to shape the future and improve the lives of others.
Yet, girls remain at risk and their voices are too often ignored.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing gender inequalities. It has put girls at higher risk of early marriage due to a combination of economic shocks, school closures and interruptions in reproductive health services. Up to 10 million girls worldwide are at risk of child marriage.
Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine is having a devastating impact on the safety and security of women and girls. The aggression against Ukraine must end.
Mr Chair, we know that violence against women and girls further escalates in both scale and severity in situations of conflict and crisis. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, ODIHR and the OSCE Moscow Mechanism have documented egregious cases of sexual and gender based violence perpetrated against women and girls by Russian troops. Women and girls make up the majority of the almost 14 million IDPs and refugees who have been driven from their homes by Russian aggression. Women and girls are the most at risk for human trafficking. All of these risks are exacerbated where there are intersectional vulnerabilities such as for persons with disabilities; LGBTQI people; and members of racial and ethnic minorities.
Outside the OSCE region, in Iran, we have witnessed the reprehensible detention and death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, as a direct result of the systemic repression of women and girls in Iran. In the ensuing weeks, we have witnessed the courage of young Iranian women and girls – and the men and boys who have joined them as allies – as they have peacefully protested and fought for their human rights and for their rightful role in Iranian society and government. We stand in solidarity with Iranian women and girls.
Mr Chair, we know what needs to be done. The human rights of all girls must be respected. They must be heard and given a meaningful voice in decision-making.
We must ensure that girls are not attacked, violated, abused or silenced. Our future depends upon it.
Thank you very much Mr Chair.
The Charity Commission is warning charities against the risk of online fraud, as a new survey found around one in eight charities (12%) had experienced cybercrime in the previous 12 months.
This follows earlier findings indicating that the pandemic prompted increasing numbers of charities to move to digital fundraising and operating, exposing them to the risk of cybercrime.
Most concerningly, the survey highlighted a potential lack of awareness of the risks facing charities online, with just over 24% having a formal policy in place to manage the risk. Similarly, only around half (55%) of charities reported that cyber security was a fairly or very high priority in their organisation.
The warning comes ahead of Charity Fraud Awareness Week, which begins on 17th October 2022. The campaign raises awareness of fraud and cybercrime and brings the charity sector together to share knowledge, expertise and good practice. It is run by the Charity Commission and the Fraud Advisory Panel and a partnership of charities, NGOs, regulators, law enforcers, and other not-for-profit stakeholders.
The Charity Commission’s new survey explored charities’ experiences of online cyber-attack. It found that over half of charities (51%) held electronic records on their customers, while 37% enabled people to donate online. A greater digital footprint increases a charity’s vulnerability. The most common types of attacks experienced were phishing and impersonation (where others impersonate the organization in emails or online). For both attacks personal data is often at risk.
There are lots of simple steps that can be taken to protect against cyber harms including changing passwords regularly, using strong passwords and two factor authentication, updating training and policies, making back-ups of your data using the cloud and making sure antivirus and all other software is patched to the latest version. Many useful tools and resources will be available to help charities reduce their vulnerability to these crimes throughout Charity Fraud Awareness Week.
The survey also confirmed that there is an under-reporting of incidents when they do occur, with only a third (34%) of affected charities reporting breaches. It’s important that charities get in touch with the Commission where there has been a serious incident, even where there may be no regulatory role for the Commission. This helps the regulator to identify trends and patterns and help prevent others from falling victim to fraud.
Amie McWilliam-Reynolds, Assistant Director Intelligence and Tasking, from the Charity Commission said:
Online financial transactions, and online working generally, present a great opportunity for charities – whether in engaging supporters, raising funds, and streamlining their operations. This was demonstrated in particular during the pandemic, when the longer-term move away from cash to online fundraising accelerated. But online financial transactions and the collection and storage of personal data also harbour risk, and we are concerned that some charities may be underestimating that risk, and are therefore exposing their charity to potential fraud.
We hope that projects like Charity Fraud Awareness Week help raise awareness among trustees and charity staff of the risks they may face, and of the advice and guidance available to support them in protecting their charity from fraud.
She added:
Preventing and tackling fraud is not a ‘nice to have’. It is vital that every penny given to charity makes a positive difference, especially during these straitened times, when donors, charities, and those they support face mounting financial pressures.
Sir David Green CB KC from the Fraud Advisory Panel said:
Fraud is the UK’s most commonly experienced crime and much of it is committed online. Therefore, it is essential that charities take the security of their systems, information, people and money seriously. Simple cyber security measures can make a big difference which is why we’ve collaborated with UK police forces to offer a series of free cyber-security focussed events during this year’s awareness week.” Charity Fraud Awareness Week 2022 will feature online events, talks and useful advice from anti-fraud experts, designed to help the third sector and charitable organisations tackle the problem of fraud and cybercrime.
Average rainfall levels over winter will still not be sufficient to avoid impending drought or drought conditions next year, the National Drought Group has forecast.
At a meeting today (14 October), chaired by Environment Agency Chief Executive Sir James Bevan, members discussed projections for a dry autumn and winter on the water, agriculture and environment sectors in 2023. Many water companies have suggested impending drought or drought conditions will remain beyond spring in some areas– notably in parts of the South West, South East, East and Yorkshire and East Midlands – if rainfall is below average.
The group, made up of senior decision-makers from the Environment Agency, government, water companies and key farming and environmental groups, also discussed actions needed over the next six months to sustain essential water supplies in preparation for spring/summer next year. This will include water companies implementing their drought plans and accelerating infrastructure plans to improve resilience of water supplies. Amongst other actions, the Environment Agency will manage water abstraction licences, take decisions on drought permits and operating its water transfer schemes.
NDG members heard that:
Water companies expect water resources to recover to either normal or recovering conditions by spring if we receive average rainfall – but several companies forecast that some supply areas will still remain in drought or impending drought conditions.
The lack of moisture in soils led to significant agricultural impacts and reduced water availability for farmers this year. Winter refill of farm storage reservoirs may be constrained if there is below average rainfall this winter
Even with typical rainfall over winter, we could still see environmental impacts in 2023 due to a lag in the environmental response to the dry weather. These include impacts on fish populations, and a higher number of environmental incidents such as fish rescues being needed as a result of lower river flows.
All sectors must plan for all scenarios, continue using water wisely and maximise access to water for all sectors and the environment.
Projections were presented by the Environment Agency on behalf of contributing NDG members such as the water companies, the NFU and Canal and Rivers Trust.
Alongside this, the latest monthly national water situation report, published by the EA today, shows that for the first time in six months, September rainfall across England as a whole reached average levels. However, due to soils remaining drier than usual, this has made little or no difference to reservoir levels and most of the country remains in drought.
River and groundwater levels remain low and reservoir stocks continue to decrease at all the reservoirs the Environment Agency reports on.
Essential water supplies remain safe, but recent rainfall has not changed the underlying drought situation caused by the prolonged dry weather of the last several months.
EA Chief Executive and NDG chair, Sir James Bevan said:
“Our lives, livelihoods and nature all depend on one thing – water. Climate change and population growth mean we need to take action now to ensure we have enough over the coming decades to manage everyday supplies, and more intense drought events.
“We have a plan to do that and delivering it will require all of us to work together – government, water companies, regulators, farmers and businesses, and each of us as individuals. The Environment Agency is determined to do its part.”
Water Minister Trudy Harrison said:
“The record-breaking temperatures, unusually low rainfall and widespread drought the country has experienced this year are a reminder that we need to adapt to ensure our water supplies are resilient and secure in future.
“The work of the National Drought Group is ensuring that we can manage down the risk of continuing drought conditions, so that the impact is less severe for all of us.”
In addition to the actions already being taken by the Environment Agency to manage the impacts of the drought, it has recently approved the following water company drought permits:
The following drought permits have recently been submitted to the Environment Agency by water companies:
Ensuring long term water security
The NDG’s projections place more focus than ever on the actions that must be taken now to enhance resilience to dry periods and the Environment Agency is redoubling its efforts to secure long term water security.
The National Framework for Water Resources (NFWR), launched by the Environment Agency in 2020 and agreed with the other regulators, the government and the water companies, sets out the scale of action needed to ensure resilient supplies and an improved water environment.
The NDG noted that many of the actions needed to ensure long term water security, notably the investment in new water infrastructure, will also play an important part in driving growth for the country as a whole. Members identified a set of actions to help accelerate delivery of that infrastructure and the water security it will help to ensure.
The NDG will meet again later this autumn to assess the latest position and take further action as necessary.
Further information:
Attendees at today’s NDG meeting:
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has completed a £10m extension of its world-leading Materials Research Facility (MRF) at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire.
Specialist materials that can withstand extreme conditions are a critical part of delivering fusion energy as a safe, sustainable, low carbon energy supply. They are also essential in the development of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the UK’s prototype fusion powerplant targeting operations by 2040.
The new investment has doubled the MRF size, providing an additional 12 shielded research rooms, used to hold high-end analytical instrumentation, as well as extensive new active chemical laboratory space, for scientists and engineers to develop more neutron tolerant materials.
Amanda Quadling, UKAEA’s MRF Director, said ahead of today’s official opening:
“Developing novel materials for resilience to fusion’s triple whammy of tritium permeation, transmutation and atomic displacement effects is one of the grand challenges in delivering fusion power to the grid by mid-century.
“We’re really proud of our extended MRF facility, which is one of the best of its kind in the world and provides collaborative space to bring together academic and industrial researchers. Also, by co-locating experimentalists and modellers, we hope to incubate new approaches to materials qualification for fusion.”
Supported by the UK government’s National Nuclear User Facility (NNUF) and Fusion Foundations programme, the MRF is also part of the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials and bridges the gap between university and nuclear licenced site laboratories.
UKAEA staff provide users with support in sample preparation and analysis, as well as logistics advice for the transport of active materials. Focus is on the development of new analytical techniques specific to fusion materials, as well as the output of engineering-relevant data for powerplant design engineers and regulators.
The MRF extension doubles the current capacity for internationally leading equipment, enables air-lock truck deliveries to the operational areas and has more office accommodation.
Find out more about using the MRF and how to apply for access: mrf.ukaea.uk