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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
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2nd December 2025
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17th March 2015 Oslo, Norway
Remember Crimea
A year ago, the Kremlin helped stage an illegal and illegitimate “referendum” in Crimea that culminated in Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine, redrawing the map of Europe by force, and deepening the burgeoning crisis in east Ukraine. The so-called referendum, hastily prepared in just two weeks, was a mockery of democracy. There were no independent, […]
17th March 2015 London, UK
Guest blog by Kirstie Smith, Business and Conflict Desk Officer, Conflict Department, on the UK’s Chairmanship of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
I’m delighted to host this blog from Kirstie Smith, and grateful to her for approaching me with the suggestion. The Voluntary Principles (VPs) – and the UK’s support for them – are a good example of the UK’s pursuit of fairness. That can sound lofty, especially when we talk about how human rights, prosperity and […]
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17th March 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
Statements of Intent
As nice as it can be living out here, there are many drawbacks to not being in the UK. It’s easy to lose touch with friends, to miss out on historic national moments and to forget about sending a card in time to arrive for Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, during the March session the only way […]
13th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Two years of Pope Francis
With some surprise, I have just woken up to the fact that we are celebrating two years since the election of Pope Francis, the first Pope from the New World. It is a cliché, but it really does seem just the other day that I – along with everyone else – was waiting for the […]
12th March 2015 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Human Rights: at the Heart of the Yemeni People
This is my first blog as the UK’s Ambassador to Yemen. Sadly, I am unable to be based in Yemen due to the security situation. But our work continues apace – currently from London, although I hope to be opening an office, outside Yemen but in the Middle East, soon. Today the Foreign and Commonwealth […]
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12th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
International Women’s Day: My “Week for Women”
Guest blog by Chloe Hamborg, Head of Political Section It has been educative and inspirational to hear comments of writers and activists from around the world this week on the theme of women’s rights, in recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March. My “Week for Women” started on Saturday evening, attending an event at […]
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12th March 2015 Paris, France
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle
In this guest blog, Colonel Geoff Wright, Military Attaché at the British Embassy in Paris, pays tribute to the British and Indian soldiers who died in the battle of Neuve-Chapelle in the North of France.
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12th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
DFID Minister’s reflections on Sudan Visit
Guest blog by Baroness Northover, UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development I have just returned from Sudan, one of the first countries I have visited since my appointment as a minister in the UK Department for International Development (DFID). I’m pleased to have visited Sudan so early in my job. We have […]
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12th March 2015 Budapest, Hungary
Ladies and… ladies
Guest blog by Theresa Bubbear, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Budapest. It’s not often that I have a good idea. And when I heard myself suggesting a speed mentoring event to mark International Women’s Day this year I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or a crazy one. It […]
12th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Annual Human Rights Report for 2014
Today the UK launches its Annual Human Rights Report for 2014, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of the UK’s role in promoting human rights worldwide, as well as to influence countries to take more concrete steps to meet their international human rights obligations. Why does the UK place such a high priority […]
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