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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
17th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Helping prevent sexual violence
G8 Foreign Ministers came together in London last week to discuss conflict resolution and the prevention of sexual violence. With the current turmoil on its south eastern border, Turkey needs no reminding of the suffering conflict can cause. William Hague has described Syria as potentially the “worst humanitarian catastrophe” of the 21st century. Last weekend’s […]
17th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Human Rights and Democracy Report 2012
This year it will be 65 years since the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Open any newspaper or news website today and you find depressingly many and varied examples of continuing breaches of those universal rights in countries around the world. Advancing respect for universal human rights is a priority […]
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17th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Comemorarea lui Lady Margaret Thatcher în România
Săptămâna trecută am primit la ambasadă mulţi vizitatori și multe mesaje de condoleanțe la moartea doamnei Margaret Thatcher. Am fost impresionat la citirea sentimentelor exprimate de numărului mare de admiratori pe care i-a avut aici în România şi a felului în care acțiunile și realizările sale au fost percepute în această parte a Europei. În […]
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17th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Margaret Thatcher, remembered in Romania
Last week we received many visitors to the Embassy and many messages of condolence on the death of Margaret Thatcher. I was touched to read the sentiments of the many admirers that she had in Romania, and her achievements as seen by people in this part of Europe. In the first place, she is seen […]
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17th April 2013 London, UK
Common Law
Do you know what QC stands for? And why Queen Elizabeth I coined the term? My sister-in-law, Poonam Melwani QC, came to Brunei last week on holiday. Like many successful women, she seems able to switch like lightning between a host of different roles. She appeared first as a rainforest explorer. At the Ulu Ulu […]
16th April 2013 Chicago, USA
The Leading Lights of Midwest Cleantech
Life-changing technologies like the automobile, personal computer, and even electric lighting all once faced the same challenges of public perception now faced by clean technology. Following their inception, these were written off as “novelties”, or “luxuries for the wealthy”, before they went on to take the world by storm. Cleantech is now at this tipping […]
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16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
2012 Annual Human Rights Report launch
Yesterday the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, officially launched the 2012 Foreign & Commonwealth Report on Human Rights. You can read it here: http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk/. The report once again highlights the British Government’s determination to strengthen the development of human rights around the world, working through the global network of British Embassies and Consulates. This includes our […]
16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Student Visas
We’re approaching the start of the student visa season. This is the time of year when students who plan to study abroad are waiting for offers of places from universities. The students – and their parents – are also thinking of all the arrangements they need to make once they get the acceptance from the […]
16th April 2013 Bucharest, Romania
Shared experience on human rights between Romania and the UK
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office launched yesterday the 2012 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, which details our efforts to promote human rights during 2012. I’ve invited Iulian to tell us more about the rights of the disabled and the joint work that could be done between Romania and the UK on this issue: My name […]
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16th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Voting for a Greener Future
Today, an important vote is taking place in the European Parliament. The British Government has asked all British MEPs to vote for a more competitive EU by supporting a higher price on carbon emissions. A well-functioning market, where it is more expensive to produce carbon emissions is crucial for green growth, and for the UK, […]