Thank you Mr President. Let me first thank the High Commissioner for his comprehensive briefing and for the dedicated work of his teams around the world. 

The United Kingdom is committed to a longer term, holistic approach to refugee assistance and protection that restores dignity and offers refugees a viable future. To this end, the UK has contributed over $570 million to the vital work of the UNHCR over the last 5 years.

I would also like to acknowledge the huge generosity of host nations in opening their borders and homes to those forced to flee. UK funding has played a key role in supporting communities strengthen resilience and self-reliance.

Amongst others, the UK has provided:

$970 million to support refugees in Lebanon since 2011

$424 million to the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh since 2017 

And $278 million to programmes in Uganda over a six year period. 

Now the High Commissioner raised a number of important themes in his presentation. I would like to address 3 of issues; conflict, climate change and COVID19.

First, on conflict, Security Council efforts to support political solutions to humanitarian crises are clearly an essential part of the picture but actors on the ground have responsibilities too – this includes adherence to International Humanitarian Law and ensuring that any refugee returns are voluntary, safe and dignified. It’s only through demonstrated compliance with the humanitarian principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence) that humanitarian actors can build the trust necessary to gain, and maintain, access to displaced populations in need. 

Just touching on some of the regional issues, in Myanmar the UK has spent over $23 million in humanitarian aid to support displaced people since the military coup in February whilst backing the efforts of ASEAN and the UN as well as regional partners to find a political solution.

In Ethiopia, as we heard, the conflict has displaced millions. We continue to support African Union Special Envoy Obasanjo’s efforts to find a political route to sustainable peace.

And in Syria, whilst we hope refugees will ultimately be able to return home we agree with the UN judgement that conditions in Syria do not currently allow this and firmly believe that Security Council resolution 2254 offers a clear path out of conflict which protects the rights of all Syrians in which civil society, women and minorities must play a role.

Mr President, turning to conflict and climate change, as the High Commissioner said the devastating convergence of these factors bears day-to-day consequences for those forced to flee. At COP26, we came together and delivered an ambitious roadmap to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees and, in doing so, lessen the impact on vulnerable populations, including refugees and displaced persons. But as we saw on our visit to your country Mr President, Niger, the security implications of climate are real and present. 

Finally, on COVID19, the UK has encouraged this Council to be alert to the impact of COVID on international peace and security and to consider the ways in which COVID19 has created socio-economic conditions that fuel conflict, unrest and subsequent displacement.

The implementation of resolutions 2565 and 2532 can help deliver equitable access to vaccines in conflict and humanitarian settings, including to refugees and internally displaced populations.  

As a leading donor to COVAX, the UK welcomes news this month that coronavirus vaccine doses are getting to Afghan refugees through the humanitarian buffer of last resort.

We hope to see even more refugee communities helped by this mechanism next year and we look forward to further discussion with the Council next week. Thank you Mr President

High Commissioner,

Thank you for your presentation and to Dominique, for inspiring stories from the front line. We are coming to the end of yet another year in which we have seen conflict, covid-19 and climate change driving up the numbers of those in need of humanitarian support, and the numbers of people forced to flee their homes increasing again.

As I saw at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview last week, more people than ever will need support from the largest yet Global appeal. And as the high Commissioner highlighted, the number of people who are forcibly displaced is expected to pass 100million next year.

Crises are also getting more severe, and they are lasting longer.

Despite these immense challenges, UNHCR have committed to stay and deliver, to continue providing life-saving support across the globe for the most vulnerable, and often in dangerous circumstances. Let me thank you yourself High Commissioner and your staff and partners for all that you continue to do. Equally important is the contribution made by generous host nations and communities. You continue to open your borders and homes to those forced to flee, without which the impact on those lives would be so much worse. Despite the pandemic-related economic challenges we have faced in our own country, the UK has continued in our proud tradition of supporting refugees. Over the last 5 years we have contributed over $500million to UNHCR, of which $134million was in 2020.

Our contribution for 2021 stands at $78.6 million, and we are currently working through our national Spending Review through which our 2022 contribution will be determined. Looking ahead, the UK is committed to tackling the terrible combination of climate change, conflict and COVID-19.

Our approach will focus on:

• Prioritising those most in need and providing what they need the most;

• Protecting civilians: the marginalised, the displaced, and especially women and girls from violence and exploitation; and using all available levers to ensure humanitarian access; and

• Preventing and preparing for crises to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt most acutely by the world’s most vulnerable. This is why the UK has argued for equitable access to vaccines in conflict and humanitarian settings, including to refugees and internally displaced populations, and why we support the application of the humanitarian buffer, such as we have seen for people displaced by conflict in Iran and Thailand.

In Glasgow at COP26 we all called for greater political ambition and practical action to help protect people from the worst impacts of climate change. And for our own part we have doubled our international climate finance to over £11 billion over five years, including nearly £500m to support developing countries to adapt to climate impacts. And we are on track to deliver our commitments under the G7 Famine Compact – the first of its kind, agreed under our presidency.

But let me also congratulate UNHCR’s achievements in bringing the world’s attention to the impact of climate change on displacement, the appointment of a Special Advisor on Climate Action, and the signing of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations. We welcome the establishment of the Green Financing Facility and look forward to working with you High Commissioner as you take forward this vital agenda.

High Commissioner, we stand firm in our commitment to those who are forcibly displaced across the world. We will continue to work closely with you and your colleagues at UNHCR to support refugees and identify sustainable solutions for displaced persons in need of assistance and protection. We look forward to the High-Level Officials Meeting next week and to working together with UNHCR and fellow Member States ahead of the Ministerial Global Refugee Forum.

Good morning all, I am Julia Lopez, Minister for Media, Data & Digital Infrastructure at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. I’d like to thank the ASA for asking me to be a speaker at this morning’s event.

Since I joined the department, I have been rapidly building my understanding of the breadth of my portfolio and the numerous different industries that play such an important role in our social fabric. I am looking forward to working with this sector as it plays a central role in a wide range of topical debates, from online harms to childhood obesity.

The global success of the UK advertising industry and its position within a competitive landscape is something to be admired. This trajectory needs to continue and I’m committed to working to secure this, where the Government can help.

We have a plethora of creative geniuses sitting right across the UK and contributing to some of the most memorable, evocative and successful campaigns in advertising history.

The benefits of advertising are undeniable. Over the last 18 months, and to this day, we have witnessed first hand the lifeline advertising has provided for colleagues in Government to communicate vital public health messaging to the whole of the UK public. For that, I would like to extend my thanks to the industry for their expertise and guidance.

I am impressed with the advertising industry’s strength and resilience over the course of the pandemic. The speed at which the industry has recovered is incredible. It is a testament to the hard work that I know many of you have put in over recent months and years.

There is no doubt in my mind that this industry is not just surviving, but it is absolutely thriving.

In the UK we are fortunate to boast a leading self-regulatory approach to online advertising, with the ASA and CAP at the forefront. Their forward-looking attitude and efforts to develop standards as trends emerge in the sector places us head and shoulders above the rest.

Their call for evidence on body image is testament to this commitment to evolving at pace whilst developing high standards for advertising in the UK.

Colleagues in ASA and CAP are amazingly proactive, and I want to ensure that in my role as Minister for this sector, we work collaboratively and I support where I can.

The advertising landscape is dynamic, and it is increasingly becoming more focused on digital channels. This brings significant benefits to businesses, but as we know it also brings new risks of consumer harms and brand safety.

As part of this, it is my goal to help the industry adapt and grapple with the challenges that this transition creates.

The public are rightly calling on players across the online advertising ecosystem – from advertisers to publishers, and all those in between – to tackle the harms created. We have a responsibility to stay on the pulse of what is harmful to our young and vulnerable people, as well as society generally.

Regulating advertising, and the internet, can be challenging because of the speed with which it changes. It’s an area that has grown exponentially over the last decade and more.

Over half of all advertising spend is now online – but the regulatory framework, which up until now has centred on advertisers, has not kept pace.

Increasingly, we are focussed on some core harms, including issues such as fraudulent advertising, scam ads and the role of advertising in body image.

I am sure all of us are familiar with the stories of those affected, whether psychologically or financially. These are issues I consistently hear significant concerns about – from the public, from consumer groups, and from businesses. This is not something we can sit on for any longer, we have to take action.

This Government is working to develop the Online Advertising Programme, a broad, fundamental review of the regulatory framework. I am planning to launch the consultation for this policy shortly.

Guided by the principles set out in the Plan for Digital Regulation, our overarching goal for the programme is to improve trust in online advertising by reducing the harms advertising online can create.

This will have benefits for business – improving trust in online advertising means the reputation of legitimate advertisers should not be damaged by those who do not play by the rules. In addition to this, increasing trust will promote growth and drive innovation as investors and creators will feel more confident in the market.

Ultimately, the Government is committed to ensuring there is a regulatory framework which reduces harm, incentivises compliance and can quickly enforce remedial action.

We know you share this objective. The ASA’s work on new Online Platform and Network Standards demonstrates a willingness to take on these new challenges.

So we are committed to considering how we can build on the existing regulatory framework. We want to review and strengthen the mechanisms currently in place and those you are developing to equip our regulators to meet the challenges of the online sphere.