The UK at the United Nations Security Council
Foreign Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry considers how effectively the UK uses its position at the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) to influence and bring about an end to global conflict, whilst advancing its goals for a rules-based international order. It will focus on countries for which the UK is a ‘Penholder’ at the …
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25
Recommendations
18
Conclusions
1
Report
3
Oral sessions
3
Events
Activity timeline 8 events
1 Dec
2025
2025
21 Sep
2025
2025
Report published
15 Jul
2025
2025
Oral evidence
15 Jul
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
1 Jul
2025
2025
Oral evidence
1 Jul
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
23 Jun
2025
2025
Oral evidence
23 Jun
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
15 Jul 2025
View on parliament.uk
Freya Jackson · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Lord Collins of Highbury · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
1 Jul 2025
View on parliament.uk
Martin Griffiths · United Nations
Richard Gowan · International Crisis Group
23 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Sir Mark Lyall Grant · United Nations
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Report - The write to protect: Britain’s pen on the world st… | HC 930 | 21 Sep 2025 | 43 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
29
Conclusion
Rejected
2nd Report - The write to protect:…
No substantive United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Myanmar since 2022.
We note with concern that despite increasing violence and reports of human rights violations, there has been no substantive resolution on Myanmar passed by the United Nations Security Council since 2022. (Conclusion, Paragraph 99)
Government Response
The government disagrees with the committee's conclusion, highlighting its consistent efforts as UN Security Council penholder on Myanmar. They state the UK secured a significant political resolution in 2022, and has since convened numerous ad-hoc meetings and led negotiations on a unified press statement, demonstrating ongoing substantive engagement despite challenges in securing further resolutions.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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30
Recommendation
Rejected
2nd Report - The write to protect:…
Raise Myanmar's profile as penholder, introduce regular reporting, and work with regional actors.
It is critical that the UK continues to raise the profile of Myanmar in all its efforts as penholder for this file at the United Nations Security Council. The Government should introduce regular mandated reporting on this conflict. The Government …
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Government Response
The government disagrees with the recommendation, stating there is insufficient support for mandated reporting at the UN Security Council. They instead highlight existing efforts, such as securing the 2022 resolution, convening ad-hoc meetings, and leading press statements, to maintain a focus on Myanmar and work with regional actors.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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35
Recommendation
Rejected
2nd Report - The write to protect:…
Detail process for balancing national interest with UN penholder obligations on file responsibility
The Government, in its response, should detail the process by which national interest is weighed against obligations as penholder at the United Nations when assuming responsibility for a file, with reference to its responsibility for the Protection of Civilians in …
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Government Response
The government disagrees with the recommendation to detail its process for weighing national interest against penholder obligations. It explains that its national interest aligns with seeking progress on protecting civilians in armed conflict and that it remains steadfast in upholding international humanitarian law and advocating for humanitarian access.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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