21st March 2024
Forests in focus on International Day of Forests
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
19th March 2024
Russia – 25 years of broken hopes and smashed dreams
8th March 2024
Gender equality is non-negotiable
18th July 2023 Geneva, Switzerland
A Little Bit Broken
One thing I’d somehow managed for the first 52 Council sessions, was to avoid serious injury. The odd week of Covid, a minor bout of pneumonia, and some less-than-pleasant food poisoning misadventures aside, I’ve kept myself in functional working shape these last 20-plus years. I’d like to say good shape, but let’s not get carried away. […]
3rd July 2023 Vienna
Online child sexual exploitation & abuse has to stop: this is how we can work together to end it
On 28 June, 71 countries agreed a joint call to action urging the removal of online Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). We agreed that we need three things…
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22nd June 2023 Vienna
Stopping nuclear explosions & detecting volcanic eruptions: the successes of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, or CTBT, opened for signature over 25 years ago. The UK is a longstanding supporter – politically, technically and financially, to the CTBT and its Vienna-based organisation, the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. But what does it do? Put simply, the CTBT bans all nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: above ground, underwater and underground.
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12th June 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
A Belgrade Diplomatic Fantasy
As a diplomat living or working in a historic building you find yourself thinking about the people who occupied the same physical and professional space before you. This is natural curiosity, interest in historic events and a wish to understand past relationships that underpin present day ones. I hope the Financial Times will forgive me […]
5th June 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
Dear Serbia
Dear Serbia, I first arrived in Belgrade in the mid-1980s by train as a student with a small tent. I caught a number 53 bus to the campsite that used to next to the ‘Kamp Košutnjak’ café. Had I known then what the future held for me, I could have looked across the valley to the […]
15th May 2023
Rights, freedom, potential: UK leadership at Education World Forum 2023
Last week, over 100 Education Ministers from across the globe came together for the 19th Education World Forum (EWF). The EWF takes place in London every year and is the largest gathering of Education Ministers in the world. This year’s event was an excellent opportunity to showcase UK leadership on global education following the launch […]
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12th May 2023 Vienna
Tackling global cybercrime in Vienna
You might hear about ‘cybercrime’ in the news; but what does it mean, how does it affect us and how are we tackling it in Vienna? Cybercrime is a global threat. It affects each of us more than we might realise, from Ransomware attacks that threaten NHS services to online scams and other types of […]
12th May 2023 Skopje, North Macedonia
Women into leadership
The 2022-23 Programme of Events concludes with Women Into Leadership 23 in Birmingham and a nomination for a Civil Service Team of The Year Award. The British Embassy Skopje based Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Western Balkans Training Team have concluded the 2022 to 2023 calendar of events […]
25th April 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
Challenges, risks and threats
On 24 February 2022 the world watched with horror and disbelief as Vladimir Putin had launched his illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Many people including in Serbia did not to believe or want to believe that Moscow would take such a reckless step, particularly against another Slavic nation with many historic, family and cultural ties […]
24th April 2023 Vienna
Multilateralism and diplomacy for peace
Today (24 April) we are celebrating the International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. I didn’t plan a career in multilateral diplomacy when I joined the Foreign Office but an early experience at the UN in New York – an amazing city, especially when you’re an enthusiastic 20-something – sealed the deal. I loved […]
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