FCDO Human Rights
Human rights work at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
10th November 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Magna Carta was a document designed to establish peace between the rather unpopular King John of England and a group of rebel barons. Yet this piece of thirteenth-century English domestic politics still resonates around the world eight hundred years on from the events which forged it. For in establishing that no one, even the […]
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6th November 2015
London, UKMadrid, Spain
On 4 November I had the pleasure of speaking in Bilbao about the importance of Business and Human Rights at the III Conference on “Gestión responsable en Derechos Humanos por parte de las empresas” which was organised by Sonrisas de Bombay, Business and Human Rights, The Rights Factory and Deusto Business School. The UK Government’s […]
Read more on The UK’s commitment to Business and Human Rights | Reply
2nd November 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Today, 2 November, is ‘International Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists.’ This really matters, for Turkey as for every country. As I wrote in my blog of 2 October about Ahmet Hakan, Turkey: media freedom, stability, security, ‘democracy, human rights and the rule of law are essential to peaceful, resillient and prosperous societies. […]
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28th October 2015
Khartoum
One of the privileges of being a woman in Sudan has been in being welcomed into the homes of families and spending time with other women. During one of my trips to the North of Sudan, my husband and I were welcomed into a family house near Kerma and as normal I joined the women […]
Read more on Women, Peace and Security: 15 years on | Reply (2)
26th October 2015
London, UK
I attended the United Nations General Assembly this year and was struck by the breadth of events designed to promote and protect women’s rights. There were celebrations to mark 20 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the best international blueprint for realising women’s rights. We also reaffirmed our commitment […]
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13th October 2015
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fifteen years ago today, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 – an important recognition of the inordinate impact of war on women and girls, and of the pivotal role women should and do play in conflict management, conflict resolution and building sustainable peace. Ninety percent of civilian casualties in conflict are women and children. […]
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9th October 2015
London, UK
On 24 September, the FCO hosted an event to launch The Torture Reporting Handbook. This is a guide on how to document and respond to allegations within the international system. Anyone who has seen the horrifying words of a torture survivor written in a report by Freedom from Torture will be appalled at the inhumanity […]
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9th October 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
On 13 October there will be a High Level Review at the United Nations to commemorate 15 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This was a ground breaking resolution that recognised not only the inordinate impact of war on women and girls, but also the pivotal role women should and do […]
Read more on Women, peace and security: a high priority | Reply (3)
9th October 2015
London, UK
This week sees National Coming Out Day (11 Oct), a time all over the world to recognise the courage of LGBT people who come out, or still struggle to for one reason or another. The day also recognises straight allies for their support of LGBT friends/colleagues. We each have our own story… My name is […]
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6th October 2015
London, UK
Slowly but increasingly surely, Sri Lanka is becoming a human rights success story. This is primarily due to the determination of its people and the courage of its recently elected leaders (see the British High Commission’s blog). But the international community, responding to our Prime Minister’s lead, has played a significant role, including through the […]
Read more on FCO Human Rights and Democracy Programme: Promoting Ethno-Religious Harmony in Sri Lanka | Reply (5)
