Thank you, Mr President.

Mr President, it is a pleasure to see the Prosecutor, Madame Bensouda, with us today, albeit in a slightly different format from what we are used to. I would like to thank the Prosecutor for briefing us today on her nineteenth report to the Security Council on the situation in Libya.

The United Kingdom strongly supports the work of the International Criminal Court to tackle impunity and hold accountable those responsible for the most serious crimes in Libya. The Court’s work is of vital importance, especially given the continued, flagrant breaches of international humanitarian law, including the ongoing targeting of civilian infrastructure, and violations and abuses of international human rights law. It is particularly appalling, at a time when countries are facing an unprecedented shared-threat from COVID-19, that healthcare facilities are among the civilian infrastructure, apparently, being deliberately targeted. Civilians, including migrants and refugees, are paying an unacceptable price with their lives during this conflict. The United Kingdom is clear in its view that civilians should be protected in armed conflict, and when they are targeted – including through sexual and gender-based violence – those responsible for violations of the law, should be held accountable. The United Kingdom will continue to support the ICC in the crucial role it has to play in making this happen. We welcome the progress the Prosecutor is making in her investigations, including her work on new warrants.

Mr President, The United Kingdom is grateful for the Prosecutor’s updates on the cases against Mr Qadhafi, Mr Al Werfalli and Mr Al-Tuhamy. We note the rejection of Mr Qadhafi’s appeal by the ICC’s Appeal Chamber, when it upheld the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber and dismissed Mr Quadafi’s admissibility challenge. We note with particular concern reports of Mr Al-Werfalli’s continued involvement in serious crime three years after the first arrest warrant was issued for him.

We continue to support the Prosecutor’s call for all relevant states, including states parties to the Rome Statute and non-states parties, to cooperate with the ICC in the arrest and surrender of warranted individuals.

Mr President, we note the reports of escalating violence in and around Tripoli leading to the death, injury and displacement of significant numbers of civilians. Reports of shelling and airstrikes that may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law are especially worrying. It is not acceptable that civilians, including migrants and refugees, remain at risk; this is why it is imperative that all parties cease fighting.

The United Kingdom notes the references in the Prosecutor’s report once again to indiscriminate abductions, arbitrary detentions and extra-judicial killings; these are unacceptable. We are particularly concerned that MP Siham Sergewa remains missing and we are pleased that the ICC’s investigations continue.

Mr President, it is clear that the ongoing conflict is having an unacceptable impact on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Libya. We continue to urge the Libyan parties to cease fighting and engage in constructive dialogue. An inclusive political solution – as set out by the Berlin Conference – offers the best hope for the stability and future prosperity that the Libyan people need and deserve. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.

Support for international criminal justice remains central to the United Kingdom’s foreign policy. We continue strongly to support the mission of the ICC, including getting justice for victims, and are committed to continuing to provide our full support to the Prosecutor and her team in their ongoing investigations in Libya.

The United Kingdom would like to thank the Board of Auditors (BOA), the UN Secretariat and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for their reports, and express its recognition of the indispensable role the BOA plays in progressing accountability across the UN system.

The BOA’s independence and technical oversight role are crucial to supporting a culture of continuous improvement in the Organisation, including on transparency, efficiency, compliance and operational effectiveness. The UK is a strong supporter of UN reform and sees the BOA’s recommendations and observations as playing an important role in the overall realisation of reforms across the UN system.

The UK welcomes the Board’s review on UN peacekeeping and its focus on peacekeeping performance, contingent-owned equipment and the implementation of previous recommendations. We see benefit in it considering matters such as management efficiency, the implementation of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System, and performance failings which could have a critical impact on safety and security, or on mandate delivery.

The UK considers that the Board’s independence is of the utmost importance, and ensures the credibility and impartiality of their findings. And while the Secretariat and Member States retain the prerogative to disagree with these recommendations, the BOA’s independence must be respected.

The UK delegation looks forward to engaging on these issues in the coming weeks and trusts that the Committee will this year support a consensual outcome.

The United Kingdom would like to express its deep recognition to the Fifth Committee Chair and Bureau for their hard work in continuing to service the work of the Fifth Committee in such extraordinary circumstances as we face at the current time, and also to colleagues from the Fifth Committee Secretariat, the ACABQ, and UN Secretariat for their support to our ongoing work.

The UK is committed to successful UN Peacekeeping in support of international peace and security. This requires full delivery of mandates, effective performance, and adequate, cost-effective financing. The UK delegation looks forward to working collaboratively within the Committee in support of our responsibility to assess and take account of the evidence presented to us with regards to the budgetary and operational elements of Peacekeeping operations. In so doing, the UK will seek to ensure that the proposed resourcing supports full delivery of Peacekeeping mandates in a manner consistent with effective, efficient management of resources.

The Committee will operate against a backdrop of extraordinary circumstances, in which it will continue to negotiate remotely for all or part of the session, and in which many delegates are experiencing concern for the health or livelihoods of friends and loved ones around the world as a result of COVID-19. In this, the UK expects that the Committee will demonstrate the community spirit and strong relationships for which it is well-known.

The UK is conscious that some Peacekeeping operations and their host countries are experiencing impacts from the pandemic, and would like to pay tribute to the dedication of the uniformed and civilian personnel in responding to these difficult situations, as well to the sacrifices made by Peacekeepers in the course of their important duties.

The UK has been a strong advocate for the SG’s reforms, and will continue to back effective implementation in pursuit of a high-performing, efficient, accountable, well-managed UN organisation, including through discussions in this session in which we should aim to ensure that our decisions are in the best interests of the Organisation.

The UK will continue to seek progress on priorities which support the full delivery of mandates and effective performance, including gender parity, action to address sexual exploitation & abuse and sexual harassment, gender mainstreaming, human rights, responsible management of the environment, effective use of technology, and protection of civilians. We recognise the important role that the recommendations of bodies such as the OIOS and the BOA play in supporting a culture of continuous improvement within the Organisation.

The UK previously expressed concern that in January we saw the principle of consensus-based decision-making undermined on ACABQ enlargement, on which issue no sincere attempt was made to engage in discussion within the Fifth Committee in pursuit of consensus. We look forward to the discussion this session on improving working methods in the context of enlargement. We trust that we will continue to see a renewed commitment within this Committee to the principle of consensus-based decisions going forward.

The UK expects to make rapid progress this session under the leadership and guidance of the Committee Chair, and looks forward to excellent cooperation with all member states in support of timely agreement of the necessary resources for UN Peacekeeping operations.

The UK would like to express its gratitude to the Secretariat for the important progress it has made on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), which rightly remains one of the top priorities of the Secretary General, and of the UN as a whole.

SEA violates the principles and values of the UN. This is why we must have zero tolerance for this behaviour from UN personnel, its peacekeepers, and from its implementing partners. We must send a collective message that those who are sent to protect people, but instead abuse their power and cause harm, will not be tolerated.

The UK delegation notably welcomes progress made towards a zero-tolerance, victim-centred, system-wide, and accountable approach to SEA, which the work of the Special Coordinator in particular helps to deliver.

The Victims’ Rights Advocate and the four Field Victims’ Rights Advocates are all doing vital work to support victims from the start of the case to after it is closed, and advocate on their behalf. The UK welcomes the development of the Victim Assistance Protocol and a Statement of Victims’ Rights.

The UK welcomes the progress made by the Secretariat on mandatory SEA training, and improving investigations. In particular, we would like to thank OIOS for the work they are doing to reduce the length of time taken to conclude SEA investigations, and deliver training courses for investigations officers. We encourage greater participation in SEA tools and initiatives that lead to greater transparency, such as the Clear Check Tool, and appeal to other Member States to join in the Voluntary Compact and the Circle of Leadership.

While COVID-19 will place a strain on much UN activity, we must ensure that SEA prevention and response continues to be prioritised as the system responds to this pandemic.

SEA will only be prevented if all of us work together to stop it, including by ensuring that victims are supported and perpetrators held accountable. The UK delegation hopes that we can achieve consensus on an SEA resolution this year and looks forward to working cooperatively with all delegations to that end.

Over 1 million boxes of essential food have now been delivered to those at highest risk across England, with more than 290,000 boxes being distributed every week and 330,000 delivered in the last week, Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP announced today (6 May 2020). 

Speaking this afternoon, the Communities Secretary hailed the efforts of everyone involved in surpassing this milestone for the government-led programme, including national food distributors, Brakes and Bidfood, who have been delivering packages directly to clinically vulnerable people’s doorsteps.

The shielding programme, an unprecedented package of support for those most at risk from coronavirus, has seen government partner with the food industry and local councils to deliver a programme on a scale not seen since the Second World War.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

The coronavirus emergency has brought uncertain and difficult times but the willingness of people to pull together and support those most in need is an inspiration to us all.

This week, another significant milestone has been achieved with one million food packages delivered to those most at risk from the virus. This is an incredible achievement from this government programme’s standing start of at the end of March.

I could not be prouder and I want to thank everyone involved, from the food box delivery drivers, to volunteers and council officials ensuring local support networks meet the needs of their communities – together, our continued and astonishing effort will provide the support that those most at risk need, for as long as they need it.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

I would like to say a big thank you to Brakes and Bidfood for getting more than one million food parcels onto the doorsteps of those in need. It is an excellent achievement in such a short space of time.

The food and drink industry is working incredibly hard to support the most vulnerable at this time, but we know there is more to do. We are continuing to work closely with local authorities, charities and industry partners to support those who still need help getting essential food supplies.

There are around 2.1 million people with underlying severe health conditions which make them most at risk from coronavirus who must be protected and have been asked to stay at home and shield.

Many have local family and friends who can get the vital provisions needed. For those without, the government has committed to providing the support they need, for as long as they need it. 

There is further guidance available on how people can access food and other supplies, including those who are not clinically extremely vulnerable.

Who is eligible for a box? 

• There are around 2.1 million people in England with underlying severe health conditions who must be protected and have been asked to stay at home.

• These are people of all ages – with extreme respiratory conditions or certain types of cancers, those who have had organ transplants – who are less able to fight off the virus. See the full list.

• People in this group are able to register for a regular food box delivery online or via the dedicated hotline. Instructions on how to do this have been sent to the individual in a letter from the NHS.

• Your information will be also be passed to food retailers to prioritise you for home delivery slots.

How often will you get a food box delivery?

• People who register will receive the delivery on a weekly basis, free of charge, for as long as we are advising the individual to stay at home.

• If a person’s circumstances change and they don’t need the pack anymore, for example because someone can help them with shopping for basic essentials, they should re-register through the gov.uk website as no longer needing a food delivery.

• Government has partnered with national food distributors – Brakes and Bidfood – to get these supplies delivered to people’s doorsteps.

What’s in the box?

The box contains a week’s worth of essentials for one person. While the contents of the parcels may have slight variation (depending on stock), they contain items such as: 

• Tinned vegetables – as well as tinned tomatoes – tinned fruit, multipacks of soup and baked beans, and a jar of cooking sauce. Other tins will contain meat and tuna.

• Store cupboard staples such as pasta, rice or noodles or cous cous, potatoes and cereal.

• Bread and fresh fruit.

• Coffee, tea and biscuits.

• Toilet paper and shower gel.

What other support is being provided?

• Up to 200,000 calls a day have been made to the shielded, and councils are helping to support them in other ways – including organising regular calls from volunteers to those isolated.