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Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Part of UK in Australia

3rd June 2014

Australia sets scene for London Global Summit on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

HE Paul Madden and The Hon Julie Bishop
HE Paul Madden and The Hon Julie Bishop
HE Paul Madden and The Hon Julie Bishop
HE Paul Madden and The Hon Julie Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and I co-hosted a Dialogue on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict at Parliament House yesterday. It was well timed, just a week before the London summit from 10-13 June. Julie is one of 14 global champions for the PSVI initiative, including presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from a diverse range of countries.

In her opening remarks the Foreign Minister paid tribute to William Hague’s initiative in propelling this important issue to the forefront of the international agenda. She will be represented in London by Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja. Ms Bishop announced that $3.3 million of Australia’s $17.7 million program to help end violence against women in Afghanistan will support the Afghan Women’s Network.

In my speech I described our ambitious plans for the London summit, which will be the largest ever international gathering on the subject. We want the summit to deliver international agreement on specific practical actions: improving investigation and documentation of sexual violence crimes; greater support for survivors; better integration of responses to sexual violence into peace and security efforts; and improved international strategic co-ordination. Participating countries will be invited to join the new International Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict which will be launched at the summit.

There were also excellent presentations from Professor Hilary Charlesworth, a top international law expert from the Australian National University and Maj Gen Gus McLachlan of the Australian Army, followed by a stimulating day of discussion with an array of experts from government and civil society. In the run up to next week’s summit our Embassies and High Commissions all around the world will be staging events to highlight the importance of action to tackle these dreadful crimes against women and girls. Follow them on #timetoact.

About Paul Madden

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017. He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia…

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017.

He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia until February 2015. Prior to this he was British High Commissioner in Singapore from 2007-2011.

A career diplomat, he was previously Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2004-2006), responsible for co-ordinating and
implementing international trade development strategies to support
companies across a wide range of business sectors.

As Assistant Director of Information at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (2003-2004) he was responsible for public diplomacy policy,
including managing the FCO funding of the BBC World Service, the British
Council and the Chevening Scholarships programme. He led the team
responsible for the award-winning UK pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan
2005.

He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore from 2000-2003 and has
also served in Washington (1996-2000) and Tokyo (1988-92). Between
1992-96 he worked on EU enlargement and Environmental issues at the FCO
in London.

Before joining FCO he worked at the Department of Trade and Industry
(1980-87) on a range of industrial sectors and trade policy, including
two years as a minister’s Private Secretary.

He has an MA in Economic Geography from Cambridge University, an MBA
from Durham University, studied Japanese at London University’s School
of Oriental and African Studies, and is a Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society. His first book, Raffles: Lessons in Business
Leadership, was published in 2003.

Married to Sarah, with three children, he was born in 1959, in Devon.

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Tags

Defence DFAT foreign policy Julie Bishop PSVI sexual violence TimeToAct