Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

6th August 2015

Stephen Townsend

Stephen Townsend

Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy to the Holy See

Modern Slavery and the UK

The UK’s Modern Slavery Act came into force on 31 July  This landmark legislation brought into law some important new provisions. These include mechanisms to seize traffickers assets and use those funds to help compensate victims, prevention orders to ensure that those who pose a risk of committing modern slavery offences cannot work sectors where they will […]

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5th August 2015 London, UK

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by Rob Fenn

Head of Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO

FCO Human Rights Work: A New Way Forward (leaving no priorities behind)

A change of government is a golden opportunity to look at things afresh, even in an area – like human rights – where our national interest and reputation both argue for continuity, if not for doing more. The new government’s manifesto commitment to supporting universal human rights was an invitation to raise our game, not […]

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5th August 2015 Dublin, Ireland

David Wallace

David Wallace

First Secretary, Head of Policy Delivery, British Embassy Warsaw

Strengthening Europe Through Reform

What does Russian aggression in Ukraine have to do with EU reform? Well, for one both were topics of conversation during Minister for Europe David Lidington’s visit to Poland last week (to see the full interview in Polish click here ). But there is something deeper binding the two. Living and working in Warsaw I […]

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5th August 2015 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The men on board of female-led economic initiatives

ABSTRACT: In the nearly 500 female-led self-help groups established in the frame of the Regional Migration Programme in Tajikistan women and men closely work together. This cooperation is promoted by the 71 male self-help group members in the Sughd Province. The predominance of male emigrants has placed over the last years many Tajik women as […]

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4th August 2015 London, UK

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by Baroness Anelay

Foreign Office Minister for Human Rights

FCO – Abolition of the death penalty remains high priority

There has been much written this week about the UK’s position on the death penalty. Most has been inaccurate and I want to set the record straight. It remains Government policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and this has not changed. Our view is clear. We believe […]

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3rd August 2015 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

3 great reasons to study in the UK, just in case you needed them

Applications for Chevening scholarships for 2016-17 are now open. Chevening is the British government’s scholarship to study a one-year master’s course in a British university. You can apply here. Don’t worry; you don’t have to rush as you’ve got until the beginning of November to complete your application. But do make sure your application is […]

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31st July 2015 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

Cuban summer reading

A lot of people ask me which are the best books written about Cuba. This year, more than ever it seems, people are interested. The rapprochement between Cuba and the United States, the two countries re-opening embassies after 54 years, the Cuban government’s steady economic reforms; all of this, and the thought that it will […]

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31st July 2015 Beirut, Lebanon

Tom Fletcher

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

So…Yalla, Bye

Tom Fletcher

Dear Lebanon, Sorry to write again. But I’m leaving your extraordinary country after four years. Unlike your politicians, I can’t extend my own term. When I arrived, my first email said ‘welcome to Lebanon, your files have been corrupted’. It should have continued: never think you understand it, never think you can fix it, never […]

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