9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
10th December 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Human Rights Day
Today, 10 December, is Human Rights Day, which marks the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – this year is the 65th anniversary. The anniversary was marked in Uzbekistan by a conference on 24 October organised by the National Centre for Human Rights, which […]
10th December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Universal Rights
It is 63 years today since the UN General Assembly established 10 December as Human Rights Day, to draw attention to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And 20 years since the United Nations Human Rights Office was established. This year Human Rights Day is marked by the theme of “20 YEARS: WORKING FOR YOUR […]
10th December 2013 Mogadishu, Somalia
Furthering our support to prevent sexual violence
Today marks International Human Rights Day. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. This is something we continue to wholeheartedly endorse, and strive to achieve. Today is […]
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10th December 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
South Australian Defence Industry
The Defence Industry matters to South Australia. The state is home to 32% of the Australian defence industry workforce. That includes many British companies like BAE Systems, Babcock, Cobham and Ultra. Employment in the sector is expected to grow from 27,000 to 37,000 by 2020. This is important at a time when some of SA’s […]
9th December 2013 Paris, France
UK air transport assistance to France for Central African Republic
France has taken the decision to increase its force levels in the Central African Republic to deal with the awful outbreak of killing between the communities there. Personally I have had a lot of experience over the years of dealing with this kind of chaos and violence, I think of the Balkans for example.
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9th December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
Impunity: the global obstacle in the fight against gender violence
When I first heard of the British Government campaign to fight sexual violence in areas of conflict – Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, I had no idea how big the problem was. The initiative showed me that approximately 50 thousand women were sexually assaulted in the Bosnian war in the 1990s. Same period when between 300 […]
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6th December 2013 Mogadishu, Somalia
Empowering women to take control
As part of our support to the 16 days of activism campaign, I have invited some our partners to share their stories. The Health Consortium is made up of a partnership between health authorities and Population Services International (PSI), Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), Health Poverty Action, Save the Children UK, and Trocaire. From 2010 […]
5th December 2013 Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa to Vancouver Roadie! With a side of Canada-UK science…
Hi – me again! This time writing from the British Consulate-General in Vancouver. For those who keep up with our blog, I was previously working at the British High Commission in Ottawa as Science and Innovation Officer. With Nicole back in her seat as team lead in Ottawa, I moved out West to take up […]
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4th December 2013 USA
UK Autumn Statement
Tomorrow, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver the UK government’s Autumn Statement. We’re often asked what the Autumn Statement is and how it differs to the Budget? The Budget (usually held in the early Spring) comes at the start of the UK’s fiscal year, which runs from April to March. Budgets set the […]
4th December 2013 Ottawa, Canada
Ground Control to Major Tim – What does Canadian Col Chris Hadfield recommend that UK astronaut Tim Peake bring with him to space?
Col Chris Hadfield has been busy since returning to planet Earth. He has been touring Canada promoting his new book and answering the public’s inexhaustible questions about life in space. On November 17th, at Science World in Vancouver, Chris was taking questions from both the curious public and curious astronauts! In this unique UK-Canada space […]
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