On Monday 23 May, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the United Nations hosted a briefing by the UK Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Dame Barbara Woodward.
Ambassador Woodward addressed members of the group and wider parliamentarians in attendance about the historic steps taken at the UN General Assembly and Security Council in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the key issues and challenges faced by the UN and international community.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified attack was a gross violation of international law, causing unacceptable human suffering and proliferating wider crises in the region and across the world. Ambassador Woodward outlined the urgent need for a cessation of violence and the necessity for the international community to address the developing global food crisis, socio-political instability, and the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war.
Ambassador Woodward outlined what the UN and member states have been doing in response to this invasion and in addressing the wider global fallout. In particular, she highlighted the following key actions:
- exerting diplomatic pressure on Russia via UN bodies
- standing up for the UN Charter, countering Russian disinformation by supporting accountability mechanisms, such as through the International Court of Justice
- ongoing delivery and coordination of humanitarian assistance
In closing, Ambassador Woodward highlighted that one of the major challenges ahead for the UN will be addressing the challenges caused by the conflict in Ukraine, while preventing regression in areas that matter to the majority of member states – recognising the risk of famine, growing terrorism and political instability, on top of Covid and climate change.
This briefing was followed by a Q&A discussion with the chair of the UN APPG, Lord Hannay of Chiswick, and those parliamentarians in attendance.
Photo: Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, briefs reporters after the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
