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FCDO Human Rights
Human rights work at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22nd May 2014
Paris, France
For far too long, rape and sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war, particularly against women. It makes conflict worse, it prolongs the effects of conflict, and it makes reconciliation far more difficult. Two years ago my Foreign Secretary William Hague, working with Angelina Jolie, who is the UN Special Envoy on these […]
Read more on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict – the view from Paris | Reply
19th May 2014
London, UK
My department moved offices last week – from rooms “in need of modernisation” on the third floor of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, down to freshly refurbished accommodation on the grand first floor. We’re more densely packed down there (“warm-desking”), but morale is high and the coffee shop closer. My new route to mid-morning latte […]
Read more on Remembrance on the way to the coffee shop (what connects IHRA and R2P?) | Reply
16th May 2014
Madrid, Spain
It’s an important day for the British Government. We are working hard to uphold the rights and freedoms of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities across the world. We believe that countries must work together to address all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to promote […]
Read more on 17 May is IDAHOT: the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia | Reply (1)
16th May 2014
Cape Town, South Africa
Guest blogger Andrew Carter: 17 May is an important date in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) calendar – a time for people around the world to celebrate sexual and gender diversities, and say ‘no’ to homophobic and transphobic discrimination, prejudice and violence. Working in South Africa, I am hugely impressed by the progressive constitution […]
Read more on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) | Reply
1st May 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“The authors of the Magna Carta clearly recognised the interdependence between personal freedom and economic freedom” said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as she began her speech at the annual Magna Carta Lecture, which the British High Commission hosts. Before a packed audience at the Victoria State Parliament, she set out her new development paradigm, for […]
Read more on Magna Carta and the "Golden Thread for Economic Development" | Reply
23rd April 2014
Madrid, Spain
I’ve blogged before about Business and Human Rights. Sustainable trade is vital for our economy, it supports employment and promotes British and global growth. But at the same time, human rights values are intrinsic to our foreign policy. So we will not promote trade at the expense of human rights. Our work on business and […]
Read more on Business and Human Rights is a top priority for the British Government | Reply (3)
11th April 2014
London, UK
Yesterday, when launching the FCO’s Annual Human Rights Report, the Foreign Secretary said: “Human rights are part of the lifeblood of the Foreign Office because they are part of our national DNA – our character as a people – and because they are vital to our national interest”. This formulation of our Ministers’ view that […]
Read more on Human Rights, DNA and the Higgs Boson? | Reply
11th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“An open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge on upon the body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity”. With these words, Pope Francis addressed the second international conference in the Vatican organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Metropolitan Police on “Combating Human Trafficking: Church […]
Read more on Modern slavery: Church and State working together | Reply
10th April 2014
Sana’a, Yemen
Today the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes its Annual Human Rights Report, which details our efforts to promote human rights globally in 2013. But while Yemen faces daily struggles against conflict, poverty, corruption, food and water insecurity, and terrorism why should we worry about human rights? Why should this be a priority? Yemen has […]
Read more on Human Rights and Wrongs: Why are they important? | Reply
2nd April 2014
London, UK
Start as you mean to go on, they say. Not easy, given the climactic nature of my first full week in charge of the FCO’s Human Rights and Democracy Department. Truth be told, this was the climax of my predecessor’s tenure – plans laid by her and my new colleagues, months ago, coming to fruition […]
Read more on Week One in Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO, London | Reply (2)
