Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Part of FCDO Human Rights UK in Hungary

30th April 2012 Budapest, Hungary

Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report – 2011

Guest blog by Levente Nyitrai, Policy Officer, British Embassy Budapest

Today marks an important occasion in the United Kingdom and the field of human rights worldwide. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, is launching the Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2011 in London. He is laying the report in Parliament after which he is hosting an official launch event. You can actually follow it all at the @FCOHumanRights twitter channel.  The report covers thematic issues, highlights the UK’s global and human rights priorities as well as the so-called “countries of concern”. This year there are new chapters dealing with the events of the Arab Spring. Check it out!

Just like other British Embassies worldwide, the British Embassy of Budapest is a dedicated and active supporter of human rights. In the past years we’ve supported dozens of projects with the aim to help social inclusion and highlight the importance of mutual acceptance and tolerance. Perhaps you’ve come across some of them such as the ZARE (Music Against Racism) programme series, which we launched at the world famous Sziget Festival, and which has been active ever since, or the Campaign for Roma Law Enforcement that provides after school training programme to disadvantaged Roma youth and encourages them to join the police force. And don’t be surprised if in the upcoming months you see British Embassy logos on promotion materials for or hear a member of the Embassy speak at minority and inclusion related conferences, trainings or even in summer camps.

Although he only arrived to Hungary two months ago, Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Jonathan Knott (my boss) has already taken part in a number of human rights related events. In March, for example, he opened, in Hungarian, the British Embassy’s Second Human Rights Movie Day and in April, in a rather moving event, he spoke at the Hungarian book launch of the “I Lived on this Earth… Hungarian Poems on the Holocaust” hosted by us in the Embassy building. You will probably see him even more at similar events in the near future. And if you see a busybody in glasses around him, holding plenty of papers and talking a lot, you can be sure you’ve come across me as well.

About Jonathan Knott

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take up his post. He left this post on April…

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to
Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take
up his post. He left this post on April 2015.
He has previously held a variety of diplomatic posts at home and
abroad, several with a particular focus on commercial and corporate
finance issues. Jonathan has served in a number of positions in the
British Diplomatic Service since joining in 1988:
Before his appointment was Deputy Head of Mission and Director for Trade and Investment in South Korea from 2008 to 2011.Between 2005 and 2008 he held the post of Deputy Finance Director in the FCO.From 2000 to 2005 he served as First Secretary (Trade, Corporate Affairs and Finance Negotiator) in UKDel OECD Paris.From 1996 to 2000 he was First Secretary (Head of Political/Economic/Aid Section) in Mexico.From 1995 to 1996 he worked in the FCO as Deputy European Correspondent at the EU Directorate.Between 1991 and 1995 he served as Third later Second Secretary (Political / Press and Public Affairs) in Havana.From 1990 to 1991 he was Desk Officer in the FCO’s First Gulf War Emergency Unit.Between 1988 and 1990 he worked as Desk Officer in the FCO in the Anti Drugs Cooperation Department.
Jonathan holds an MA in law from Oxford University, and he is a
member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He speaks
English, French, Spanish and Hungarian. He is married to Angela Susan
Knott and has one daughter and two sons.

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