Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

17th June 2014 New Delhi, India

3D printing – the future of manufacturing?

Additive Manufacturing (also known as direct-digital-manufacture, generative manufacture or 3D Printing) is one of the most exciting emergent technologies available to global industry today, allowing companies to manufacture ever more complex and optimized products and components at very low unit volumes. 3D Printing has taken the media by storm, causing a mixture of knowing nods, […]

Read more on 3D printing – the future of manufacturing? | Reply (2)

17th June 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria

The First British Ambassador to Bulgaria

by Christine Day Christine Day is the daughter of the first British Ambassador to Bulgaria Sir William Harpham (1964-1966), who presented his credentials as an Ambassador in a cold January day in 1964. Christine’s story is a recollection of this day. Christine Day was a special guest at the Queen’s Birthday Party 2014 that took place […]

Read more on The First British Ambassador to Bulgaria | Reply

16th June 2014

Avatar photo

by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Say no to Sexual Violence

The use of sexual violence in war is one of the great injustices of our lifetime. It is hard to document, let alone investigate. Perpetrators do not discriminate, because it’s not about sex, but violence, terror, power and control. When rape is committed during conflict, it has often been seen as an inevitable part of […]

Read more on Say no to Sexual Violence | Reply

16th June 2014

Avatar photo

by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Digamos no a la violencia sexual

El uso de la violencia sexual en las guerras es una de las mayores injusticias de nuestro tiempo. Se trata de un fenómeno difícil de documentar y más difícil aún de investigar. Sus autores no discriminan porque en definitiva, no se trata de sexo, sino de violencia, de terror, de poder y de control. Cuando […]

Read more on Digamos no a la violencia sexual | Reply (2)

16th June 2014 British High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica

by Syranno Baines

Digital and Communications Officer

“Go de R**s to sleep…” & other memories of Calabash

I have been to literary festivals in the UK – usually in rain soaked parts of England.  This was my first time at Calabash.  Jamaica’s biannual literary event is more than a festival.  And also less.  It is two and a half days of readings, interviews and performances by Caribbean and non-Caribbean writers set against […]

Read more on “Go de R**s to sleep…” & other memories of Calabash | Reply

16th June 2014 Geneva, Switzerland

Avatar photo

by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Bursting at the Seams

The Human Rights Council is getting too big for its trousers. I know how this feels as I have had to buy a new more spacious suit recently. June sessions used to start slowly, simmer in the second week and come nicely to the boil in week three. But this year week one has begun […]

Read more on Bursting at the Seams | Reply (5)

13th June 2014

Avatar photo

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Celebrating the Queen’s Birthday with the Governor General

Australia’s new Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, is clearly enjoying his role. He gave a very warm speech at a dinner in Canberra last night, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Australia Britain Society (of which I am the Patron) to celebrate the birthday of HM The Queen. The Governor General used the […]

Read more on Celebrating the Queen’s Birthday with the Governor General | Reply

12th June 2014 Ottawa, Canada

by Julia Nolan

Head of the Foreign Policy Team

Ottawa does its bit to mark this week’s Global Summit!

If you’re in Ottawa and don’t know what this means, you clearly weren’t downtown last night. That’s when we lit up the façade of the High Commission on Elgin in red to show our solidarity with the work of over 1,000 people in London at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict…

Read more on Ottawa does its bit to mark this week’s Global Summit! | Reply (1)

12th June 2014 Jerusalem, Israel

Avatar photo

by Alastair McPhail

British Consul General to Jerusalem

Welcome to my new blog!

Welcome to my new blog!  Some of you will remember me from my time as Ambassador in South Sudan. Others will be meeting me for the first time.  I have been in Jerusalem for five months and would like to start a conversation with you about this fascinating part of the world. My first five […]

Read more on Welcome to my new blog! | Reply (1)

12th June 2014

Avatar photo

by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Ending Sexual Violence as a Tool of War

Sexual violence committed in war zones has been not only an abomination against humanity but a growing problem. Long seen as an inevitable consequence of a breakdown of law and order and often regarded as a ‘lesser crime’, it is increasingly being used as a means of war to humiliate and devastate communities belonging to the […]

Read more on Ending Sexual Violence as a Tool of War | Reply