FCDO Human Rights

Human rights work at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

9th August 2018 Berlin, Germany

Sebastian Wood

British Ambassador to Germany

Flying the flag for diversity, respect and tolerance

We in the UK and Germany have come a long way over the past decades in the fight for tolerance, diversity and sexual equality. And we have achieved a great deal. Today it almost easy to forget that homosexual relations were illegal less than 50 years ago in both countries. Since then, many small steps […]

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26th June 2018 London, UK

Dr. Ivar Fahsing / Gisle Kvanvig

Detective Chief Superintendent and Assistant Professor at the Norwegian Police University College / University of Oslo, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights

UK interviewing and investigation techniques take a detour through Norway and go global

Torture

For the last decade, the Norwegian Police Service and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) at the University of Oslo have cooperated on implementing methods of interviewing and investigations in law enforcement, military and intelligence services around the world. The methods originated in the UK and the ongoing projects involve close cooperation with British […]

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8th May 2018 London, UK

Michael Adamson

Chief Executive of the British Red Cross

The Red Cross and Red Crescent: everywhere for everyone

Today (8 May) is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, a day to celebrate the incredible work of our staff and volunteers around the world. Every year the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement supports millions of people affected by conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies through its network of 191 national societies,14 million […]

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10th April 2018 London, UK

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by Joanna Roper

FCO Special Envoy for Gender Equality

One in three young people live in the Commonwealth: education is the key to their future

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will soon be upon us.  A major gathering of representatives from 53 governments who look after 2.4 billion people – a third of the world’s population – over 60% of whom are 29 or under.  It’s also an opportunity for the UK to demonstrate its commitment to this multilateral […]

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14th March 2018 Gaborone, Botswana

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by Katharine Ransome

British High Commissioner to Botswana and UK Representative to the Southern Africa Development Community

Celebrating Phenomenal Batswana Women

#PressforProgress A message from Her Excellency The British High Commissioner to Botswana, Katy Ransome on International Women’s Day 2018 We must strive to ensure that women have access to equal opportunities in the workplace, politics and most importantly girls access to education. This International Women’s Day is an opportunity to take action to press forward […]

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22nd February 2018 Abuja, Nigeria

Jibikeoluwa Faborode

Chevening Programme Officer

Disability inclusion begins with You and I

I recently organised a targeted Chevening Scholarship application workshop for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Chevening is a holistic UK government funded scheme that prepares talented individuals for the future leadership of Nigeria, through a cultural exchange and master’s degree programme in the UK. The workshop was hosted in collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) […]

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8th December 2017 London, UK

Mervyn Thomas

Chief Executive, Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Faith Actors Can Play a Positive Role in Defending Human Rights. They Need Support.

Candles

The right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is often misunderstood and dismissed as special pleading by the religious, when in reality, in its fullest form, it protects the right of all people to live their lives according to their deepest convictions, whether or not they have a religion or belief. It must be […]

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9th October 2017 London, UK

Saul Lehrfreund

Joint Executive Director of the Death Penalty Project

Why we need to do away with the death penalty

It was Monday morning and my boss called me into his office, “I want you to go to Jamaica.” “When” I asked innocently, “tomorrow” he replied passing me a one way ticket. So began my journey into defending the rights of those facing the death penalty. It was 1992 and I was just 24 years […]

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25th September 2017 Geneva, Switzerland

Matthew Forman

Head, Political and Human Rights Team, UK Mission to the UN, Geneva

What a Difference a Year Makes

Leaving aside the extremely grim subject matter which forms the basis of our work, one of the things I like the least in my job is having to say goodbye to good people. This summer we bade farewell to another great set of colleagues including the UK’s own James Mclaughlin and the ever wonderful, and […]

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27th July 2017 London, UK

Christopher Kimber and Morgane Donse

Desk Officer, Democracy and Equality Team / Head of International, Evidence and Engagement, LGBT Equality (Government Equalities Office)

Sexual Offences Act: 50 years on

Today marks 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, an important milestone in the UK’s own journey to full equality for LGBT people. Same-sex relations between men were against the law in England and Wales until 1967, when The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised private homosexual acts between two men aged […]

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