Sam Woolven (@samwoolven) header
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Sam Woolven

@samwoolven

Politics, Diplomacy, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Inclusion | Helping ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK embassies do more to tackle global inequalities ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿฆผ๐Ÿง•๐Ÿฝ

linktr.ee/woolven
Joined April 2016
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Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)Photo by Sam Woolven (@samwoolven)
Leaving UAE having met so many amazing women there, in Qatar and in Saudi Arabia, women who have so much more opportunity in their lives than previous generations ever did ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ถ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช @FCDOGovUK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Special Envoy for Women and Girls
Image from Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman)
Image from Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman)
Image from Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman)
Image from Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman)
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At #UNGA80 Foreign Sec @YvetteCooperMP called on world leaders to step up progress on womenโ€™s rights. @GOVUK will stand firm against rising misogyny and work to end violence against women and girls. gov.uk/government/speeches/wโ€ฆ
We must step up our efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, because everyone has the...

We must step up our efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, because everyone has the...

Statement by The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, at the UNGA 80 side event on Beijing +30.

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Last week the UK and Nepal joined the UNโ€™s Feminist Foreign Policy + group. We will use this group to deepen our collaboration with partners around the world on meaningfully integrating gender equality into our foreign policy and diplomacy.
Image from Collins of Highbury (@Lord_Collins)
Image from Collins of Highbury (@Lord_Collins)
Image from Collins of Highbury (@Lord_Collins)
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โ€œWe celebrate the new generation of women in diplomacy who are determined to work alongside male colleagues on equal terms and make a difference in the world.โ€ Inspiring words from UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, @HarrietHarman, here in Geneva for #WomenInDiplomacy Day
Baroness Harman speaking at UN

ALT Baroness Harman speaking at UN

Image from UK Mission Geneva ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง (@UKMissionGeneva)
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A fantastic and productive week in Cairo meeting with the @UKinEgypt team to strengthen our work on gender, equalities and social inclusion. And some brilliant meetings with local civil society, academics, @UNWomenEgypt, @UNICEF_Egypt and @UNFPAEgypt ๐Ÿง•๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€โš–๏ธ
The interior of the UN women office in Egypt with the SDG goals artwork and a large sign reading "Empowering Women Empowering Egypt

ALT The interior of the UN women office in Egypt with the SDG goals artwork and a large sign reading "Empowering Women Empowering Egypt

The pyramids of Giza at sunset

ALT The pyramids of Giza at sunset

A UN joint programme funded children's club with colourful paintings on the wall

ALT A UN joint programme funded children's club with colourful paintings on the wall

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Happy #PrideMonth ๐ŸŒˆ Everyone, everywhere should be equal, safe, and free to be themselves. I'm proud to know many LGBT+ community members and activists around the world who are working hard to achieve this important goal ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ Together, we can deliver meaningful equality!
Rainbow flags being flown near Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square

ALT Rainbow flags being flown near Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square

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Sam Woolven retweeted
David Lammy (@DavidLammy) profile picture
David Lammy
@DavidLammy22 May 2025
Yesterday I met my friend and Special Envoy for Women and Girls @HarrietHarman. As a life-long trailblazer for women's rights, she will work with me to help ensure women and girls are at the heart of our priorities, from growth and security to climate and development.
Image from David Lammy (@DavidLammy)
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We will never put women and girls' rights up for negotiation. There can be no going backwards โ€“ only forwards. โ€œThree decades after the world came together in Beijing, we agreed a Political Declaration to advance the rights of all women and girls.โ€ @Lord_Collins at #CSW69
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Fantastic news! Political Declaration adopted at #CSW69 ๐ŸŒ I'm proud of the fantastic diplomats in our embassies across the MENA region who have been proactively engaging to discuss this vital issue. Women's rights are under threat & the world needs to step up in defence ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ
UK at the UN ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณ (@UKUN_NewYork) profile pictureUK at the UN ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณ
@UKUN_NewYork10 Mar 2025
The UK is proud to support the 2025 Commission on the Status of Women Political Declaration. We are committed to defending the rights of all women and girls around the world.
Image from UK at the UN ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ณ (@UKUN_NewYork)
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When women can fulfill their rights, freedoms, and potential, societies and economies will thrive ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ“ˆ On #InternationalWomensDay, the UK has announced a new Special Envoy for Women and Girls, to champion #GenderEquality globally ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Read more โคต๏ธ gov.uk/government/news/womenโ€ฆ
Womenโ€™s rights to be championed by appointment of new UK Special Envoy

Womenโ€™s rights to be championed by appointment of new UK Special Envoy

Harriet Harman to champion gender equality worldwide as new UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls.

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In the Middle East and North Africa, there is still significant progress needed to ensure women are meaningfully included throughout societies and economies. I'm honoured to have met many pioneering women across the past year who are delivering change for their communities.
Meeting with the special representative for women in the Kurdistan regional government

ALT Meeting with the special representative for women in the Kurdistan regional government

Meeting with the Algerian ministry for women's and family affairs

ALT Meeting with the Algerian ministry for women's and family affairs

Meeting with the Saudi Human Rights Commission

ALT Meeting with the Saudi Human Rights Commission

Meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

ALT Meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

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On #IWD2025, I'm reflecting on how the UK and our embassies across the world can better support local women's rights organisations, peacebuilders, humanitarian workers, and activists. Read about these 8 extraordinary women driving change โคต๏ธ linkedin.com/pulse/8-extraorโ€ฆ
8 extraordinary women you should take note of

8 extraordinary women you should take note of

From providing life-saving medical care in Gaza to the first female Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory.

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The Foreign Secretary has appointed @HarrietHarman as Special Envoy for Women and Girls to champion gender equality worldwide and help deliver global economic growth. ย  #InternationalWomensDay2025 #AccelerateActionย #IWD2025
Harriet Harman appointed UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls

ALT Harriet Harman appointed UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls

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The 69th @UN Commission on the Status of Women starts next week. 30 years on, the UK remains committed to the Beijing Declaration on gender equality. Defending women and girlsโ€™ rights is a UK priority.
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I took part in a busy and impactful set of engagements in Riyadh and Jeddah last week, alongside the UK Gender Envoy ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง-๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ We discussed the positive impact of women's economic inclusion, our priorities for #CSW69, and how multilateral orgs and dev banks can champion equality.
A group photo from a meeting with the Saudi Arabia Family Affairs Council, including their chair Dr Maimoonah, and the UK Gender Envoy, Alicia Herbert.

ALT A group photo from a meeting with the Saudi Arabia Family Affairs Council, including their chair Dr Maimoonah, and the UK Gender Envoy, Alicia Herbert.

A photo of the UK Gender envoy, Alicia Herbert, engaging with the chair of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, Dr Hala

ALT A photo of the UK Gender envoy, Alicia Herbert, engaging with the chair of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, Dr Hala

A photo of the group attending a visit at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts in Jeddah

ALT A photo of the group attending a visit at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts in Jeddah

A group photo from a meeting at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

ALT A group photo from a meeting at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

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An HIV test from home @10DowningStreet Sir Keir Starmer has become the first Prime Minister and G7 leader to take a public HIV test, as part of National HIV Testing Week which starts today. You can order a free, quick and easy HIV test now at startswithme.org.uk
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The UKโ€™s Special Envoy for Gender Equality @AliciaH_1 made her first visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this week. In this video she shares her reflections and observations on the progress being made in the Kingdom. ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿค๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ #genderequity #studyukalumniawards
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I had to get the obligatory picture of the office from above, as I head back to HQ for some meetings this week ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง
Ariel shot of London, including river Thames, London eye and various government buildings on Whitehall

ALT Ariel shot of London, including river Thames, London eye and various government buildings on Whitehall

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It was fantastic to see this meeting take place as part of the Iraqi PM's delegation to the UK ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ถ-๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง I visited our team in @UKinIraq last year and was glad to see the work we're doing alongside Iraqi women's organisations to support women and girls throughout the country.
Alicia Herbert OBE (@AliciaH_1) profile pictureAlicia Herbert OBE@AliciaH_115 Jan 2025
Great to meet @IraqiPMO Advisor on Women's Affairs to discuss importance of advancing the rights of women and girls & the #WomenPeaceSecurity agenda. UK is committed to strengthening collaboration with Iraq to progress women's empowerment @UKinIraq.
Image from Alicia Herbert OBE (@AliciaH_1)
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I met with @IraqiGovt Planning Minister and @IraqiPMO Advisor on Womenโ€™s Affairs to strengthen our development partnership. Our focus is to promote the rights of women and girls in Iraq and support Iraqโ€™s resilience through collaboration on climate change and economic reform.
Anneliese Dodds with the Iraqi Planning Minister and Advisor on Womenโ€™s Affairs.

ALT Anneliese Dodds with the Iraqi Planning Minister and Advisor on Womenโ€™s Affairs.

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