Justine Greening, Secretary of State for International Development, has responded positively to a letter from UNA-UK Chairman Sir Jeremy Greenstock, which called for the UK Government to invest in strengthening the United Nations.
With the UK currently undertaking its National Security Strategy (NSS) and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), UNA-UK is pushing the Government to acknowledge the importance of an effective international system to the Britain's security and prosperity. Sir Jeremy's letter set out UNA-UK's main recommendations for how the UK should step up it commitment to UN peace operations, atrocity prevention and the 'Responsibility to Protect'.
In her letter of reply, the Rt Hon Justine Greening stated that the Department for International Development (DFID) had taken "particular interest in the aspects relating to the role of the UN" in its engagement in the SDSR. She also said that "DFID will continue to prioritise conflict prevention and peacebuilding throughout its work" and that atrocity prevention "is an important part of broader strategies to address conflict and fragility, especially in developing countries".
Click here to read Sir Jeremy's letter to the Secretary of State for International Development.
UNA-UK has sent similar letters to the Prime Minister and the Secretaries of State for Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of its engagement with the SDSR. These will be published on our website as we receive official responses.
The Association has also asked its members and supporters to contribute to a public consultation on the SDSR.
Photo credit: Simon Davis/DFID
