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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of FCDO Human Rights UK in Holy See

25th November 2015

Hope and determination in eliminating violence against women

Baroness Anelay visits DRC
Baroness Anelay discusses Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict with faith groups, DR Congo October 2015

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Between now and 10 December, Human Rights Day, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office – led by the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Anelay – will be focusing on our work to prevent sexual violence against women. It’s right that violence against women and girls remains a top international priority for the UK. Shockingly, and sadly, 35% of women and girls will experience some form of physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. Every day, thousands of women, children, and men are subjected to rape and sexual violence in conflicts around the world.

To make progress, we have to have partners. And there are few partners better placed than the Holy See. Pope Francis supported the London Summit in June 2014 that agreed the International Protocol designed to tackle impunity for the crime. In his annual speech to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See in January 2015, the Pope decided to speak clearly on the issue: “The crime of rape is a most grave offence against the dignity of women.[..]. Sadly, even apart from situations of war, all too many women even today are victims of violence”. The Pope’s message has helped to galvanise thinking across the Holy See network, and we have been working in particular with the networks of religious men and women around the world to see what more they might do, on the ground where their congregations are based, to contribute to this global effort.

Baroness Anelay spoke to Vatican Radio on 24 November, when she took the opportunity to thank Pope Francis for his support. She highlighted her recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo where she had seen first-hand the scale of the problem. She spoke to government officials, civil society groups and faith leaders about their response, and witnessed the efforts of many, including the local Catholic Church, to support victims and help in the work of their rehabilitation into society.

The picture remains grim. But as Pope Francis said on the eve of his current visit to Africa, the Gospel “teaches the dignity of every man and woman, and commands us to open our hearts to others, especially the poor and those in need”. Baroness Anelay told Vatican Radio that we have to look forward with hope and determination: “The strength of the human spirit of men and women working together helps to overcome sexual violence”. We look forward to working more closely with Holy See religious networks in the future to tackle this terrible and all too prevalent crime.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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#sexualviolence #violence africa Baroness Anelay DRC End Sexual Violence pope africa Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict vatican radio Women

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