Detailed guide: Visiting the UK: information for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
What you need to know about crossing the UK border and visiting the UK from 1 February 2020.
Detailed guide: Visiting the UK from 1 January 2021
What you need to know about crossing the UK border and visiting the UK from 1 January 2021.
Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on Belarus: UK statement
Thank you,
We welcome the High Commissioner’s report, which provides an opportunity to act with resolve on the human rights situation in Belarus.
The United Kingdom is gravely concerned about the fraudulent presidential elections and appalling violations, particularly the targeting of peaceful protesters and restrictions on freedom of expression.
We condemn the excessive use of force by the authorities. The Belarusian people face increasing repression by authorities acting with impunity. We are very concerned that two British diplomats were expelled for observing peaceful protests.
The UK imposed sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko and others responsible for violations.
The UK is engaging with all actors: the authorities, the opposition and civil society. We are doubling financial support to independent media and human rights organisations, with an extra £1.5 million over two years. Our Canada-UK Media Freedom Award was won by the Belarusian Association of Journalists, who bravely defend media freedom.
We repeat our call on Belarus to implement the recommendations of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report, in particular the recommendation that new elections, held in accordance with international standards, are required.
Madame High Commissioner, what steps should the authorities take for a genuine dialogue with the people of Belarus?
Thank you.
Climate change and risk management event
News story
GAD held a 2-day event on the risks and challenges of climate change. The online event was attended by around 250 people.
Around 250 people attended a 2-day event on climate change arranged by the Government Actuary’s Department’s (GAD) in collaboration with the Civil Service Environment Network.
The online event, which was held in November, looked at the government’s climate challenge and asked how risk management can help.
Speakers and topics
Attendees heard from 20 speakers who were from 16 different organisations. These included a range of government departments, University College London, the Climate Change Committee, the World Bank and the Insurance Development Forum.
Topics included financial modelling of climate impacts, resilience of schools, upskilling the Civil Service and actuaries, climate-related financial disclosures and how the UK will reach net zero by the year 2050.
GAD’s contributions
The Government Actuary Martin Clarke chaired the first 2 sessions. One of the contributors was actuary Chris Paterson, who spoke about some work GAD has done to help funded pension schemes understand climate risks.
He said: “We are proud to be able to bring together such a diverse group of speakers to discuss the urgent challenges we face in government and beyond.
“There’s a big role for actuaries in this but we have to work alongside many other professionals to address this enormous risk management challenge. The quantity and quality of questions from the audience were just what we needed and provoked helpful debate.
“The great thing about the event is that discussing climate change risks right now necessitates a dynamic conversation. There are new findings in research, new regulations proposed and always more areas to cover. We were able to bring together the expertise, alongside our own, to do that.”
Published 4 December 2020
Professor Duncan Selbie elected head of global public health network
Members of International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) voted in a virtual election in November, with the result announced at their annual meeting this week.
IANPHI is a network of public health leaders with 111 members, representing 95 countries and works to build global public health capacity by creating, connecting, and transforming the world’s national public health institutes.
Professor Selbie’s election comes as the landscape of global public health is changing in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, making the work of IANPHI more vital than ever and provides an excellent opportunity for the UK to further strengthen its relationships with our global partners.
He has worked closely with IANPHI members for several years across various projects, including PHE’s International Health Regulations Strengthening Project which aims to establish and strengthen the capability of public health institutions to prevent, detect, respond to and control public health threats.
Following a period of transition, Professor Selbie will take over from outgoing president Andre van der Zande in January, beginning a 3-year term.
Professor Duncan Selbie said:
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and the response on a scale we have never before seen in living memory. Public health experts have never been more important to the health of their people and their local economies. We have a huge opportunity and responsibility to share our knowledge and learn from each other, ultimately strengthening global health security. IANPHI have a leading role to play in this.
Outgoing IANPHI president Professor Andre van dar Zande said:
IANPHI is very fortunate to have someone of Duncan’s experience and skill at its helm. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world of how important it is to have strong, effective institutes protecting the public’s health.
Background information
IANPHI was formally launched in 2006, starting with 39 founding members and growing to 110 as of December 2020.
It is the only organisation that strengthens national public health institutes using an evidence-based international framework for development.
IANPHI provides direct funding to governments in low-income countries to build and strengthen national public health capacity through development of NPHIs.