17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
26th November 2012 Kingston, Jamaica
Tars and Tarps
My job in the last week has involved discussions with ‘tars’ (or sailors) about ‘tarps’ (or tarpaulins). When posted to Singapore I had the opportunity to visit a number of other nations’ ships, which often stopped at the naval base for a few days. Last week in Kingston we had a short-notice visit from a […]
25th November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Stop gender based violence now
We are living in modern times, where women are respected, right? Women have reached leadership positions across the world. In Africa, we have women presidents. This year, Dlamini-Zuma was elected as the African Union’s first female Chairperson. But still too many women and girls live in fear, facing unacceptable risks of violence and having no […]
25th November 2012 Dublin, Ireland
Preventing sexual violence including in armed conflict
The following is a guest post by Stana Buchowska PhD on the serious issues of human trafficking and violence against women. It is an admirable analysis of a complex problem. Let me add a word on our Foreign Minister’s initiative on preventing sexual violence in armed conflict. When we think of armed conflict, we think […]
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23rd November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Guest blog by Jenny Söderqvist, Political Attaché at the British Embassy in Sweden This Sunday is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – a UN initiative to raise awareness about this complex and serious problem. The date – 25 of November – has not been chosen at random, but marks the […]
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22nd November 2012 London, UK
Brunei’s ASEAN Chairmanship
I have just got back from a meeting of British High Commissioners and Ambassadors in ASEAN countries, timed to coincide with this week’s ASEAN Summit. We talked about the UK’s relationships with each member state, about our understanding of ASEAN as a whole, and about how our bilateral relationships with ASEAN countries – all strong, […]
22nd November 2012 Dublin, Ireland
GREAT opportunities on offer in Poland and the rest of Emerging Europe
After a week talking to businesses and enablers in London, Preston and Glasgow, I am convinced that we are seeing an upsurge of interest in the opportunities on offer in Poland and the rest of Emerging Europe. But we are also seeing British success today. The big story of the week was the delivery of […]
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22nd November 2012 Islamabad, Pakistan
Howzzat!!
Written by an avid cricket fan and guest blogger from the British High Commission in Islamabad: A green cricketing outfield under a clear blue sky, the sound of leather on willow on warm sunny afternoon with a majestic church spire as a backdrop; this can only be a scene from my youthful cricketing days turning out for Wimbledon […]
21st November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Arab Partnership: Responding to the Challenge of Change
Ala’a Al-Sallal was frustrated when he found he couldn’t buy Arabic books on Amazon. So rather than give up he decided to set up his own Arabic version of Amazon. This young man from Jabal Natheef worked with the active support of his family to set up a new company: Jamalon, an on-line bookshop that now […]
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21st November 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Trade, tax, transparency: the UK G8 agenda
Next year Britain chairs the G8, the group of the world’s most developed Western economies. So what you might ask? Some people ask: does the G8 still matter, when we have a G20, embracing also the emerging powers, including Brazil, India and China? The UK’s answer is “Yes”. The G8 is a group of like-minded […]
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21st November 2012 New Delhi, India
India is a country on the move
We have had a recent arrival in our New Delhi office; Dr Nafees Meah took over as Director, RCUK India. Nafees has been here for a few weeks now and we thought it would be nice to hear from him regarding his time here so far and what’s to come. So I will hand over […]