24th October 2012
The UN General Assembly is currently discussing the terms of a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. It is likely to go to a vote next month. The last time there was such a vote (in 2010), 109 states were in favour, 41 against, and 35 abstained. The United Kingdom and […]
18th October 2012
179 years ago today the British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act, outlawing the slave trade after years of courageous campaigning by William Wilberforce and others who spoke out against the exploitation of men and women and opposed the vested economic interests in this vile business. Unfortunately this trade continues today, here in Europe. Last […]
24th September 2012 Geneva, Switzerland
My second week of the Council session got off to a particularly bad start as I managed to put my back out while playing with my son at the weekend. My boss Ian cheerfully put it down to age catching up with me. I like to think I’ve a few good years left in me […]
14th September 2012 Athens, Greece
During the last years Greece has become a host country for many labor migrants. The education policy concerning the children of those migrant families has however still room for development. As the legitimacy status for many immigrant families remains uncertain or unclear due to delays in completing applications for residence permits, the children’s inclusion in […]
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13th September 2012
The UN International Day of Democracy falls on 15 September, a day on which Governments are encouraged to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy. The theme this year is Democracy Education. As the relevant UN web-page notes: “It is only with educated citizens that a sustainable culture of democracy can […]
7th August 2012
I usually do all I can to avoid hordes of tourists, but last weekend I jumped at the chance to join them. And I’m glad I did! The opportunity to watch the 80th anniversary of the Guelaguetza – an indigenous cultural festival in Oaxaca a Southern State of Mexico – at the invitation of its […]
30th July 2012
All British ambassadors work with human rights defenders. As the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has said: “Human rights are part of our national DNA and will be woven into the decision making processes of our foreign policy”. I have written previously about our work with people and organisations trying to prevent the trade in human […]
2nd July 2012
In the joint communiqué signed between the British Government and the Holy See in February this year, both sides committed to “working together to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion, wherever it is manifest”. This was a significant promise. What does it mean in practice? In essence, it means working together multilaterally and internationally […]
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28th May 2012 Bucharest, Romania
As part of our preparations for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, we have another guest blogger today. Rhys Osborne, Head of Registry at the British Embassy in Bucharest, kindly shared his impressions about a recent event supported by the Embassy. Last week I took part in an event hosted by Fundatia Inocenti. Established in […]
21st May 2012 Bucharest, Romania
I invited a special lady to guest star on my blog on this very special day. Today we mark 100 days to go until the opening of the Paralympic Games, so there is no better time to meet the extraordinary Paralympic team then directly from Sally Wood Lamont, the President of the Romanian Paralympic Committee!