We are the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association, more commonly known as UKOTA.
UKOTA was constituted on the 2nd of November 1994 by the Governments of the UK’s Overseas Territories who have a permanent population in the UK. Membership is equal, regardless of the size, or the GDP of any Territory. Exceptionally for the smallest of Territories, who may not have a Representative in the United Kingdom, special efforts are made to ensure that these Governments are consulted and that their views and interests are always fully taken into account in all of UKOTA’s deliberations and representations.
The 12 inhabited UK Overseas Territories are scattered across the globe, with a combined population estimated to be 350,000. You can view our Member Territories here.
The main work of UKOTA is representing the collective view of the Overseas Territories through dialogue and contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and through other UK Government Departments; both at official and Ministerial level. UKOTA also engage with other bodies in relation to protecting the critical biodiversity of the Territories. 90% of the UK’s biodiversity is in the OTs.
The Chairmanship of the Association rotates each year.
Officers of UKOTA, together with their contact details, are available here.
Please download a copy of the UKOTA constitution here.
In November – December 2022 the RRS Discovery travelled 9000 miles to the remote islands of Ascension and St Helena. Run as part of the UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme, this scientific expedition visited areas of previously uncharted ocean within the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of these south Atlantic islands. Introduced by international musician and […] Read more...