Written Evidence Submission

To: UK Parliament Committee on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda

Submitted by: Dr Ade Ige-Olaobaju, University of Northampton

Other contributors: Dr Al-Amin Abba Dabo, Dr Emmanuel Vanger, Dr Olalekan Adisa, Dr. Idris Ganiyu

Date: 23 April 2025

Response to Question: What are the current trends that can be observed in respect of adherence of the international WPS agenda? What role does the UK play on an international scale, and how can this be improved?

Executive Summary

This submission argues that while the international Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has gained increasing global recognition, as evidenced by numerous United Nations resolutions and National Action Plans, several key trends have emerged. These include a focus on women's participation in peace processes, the protection of women from conflict-related sexual violence, and a growing emphasis on conflict prevention. However, a significant gap persists between policy and implementation, with challenges such as insufficient funding and a lack of political will hindering progress.

Historically, the UK has been a strong advocate for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, demonstrated through its co-sponsorship of resolutions at the United Nations Security Council and the development of National Action Plans (NAPs). While the UK shows notable strengths in policy frameworks, international advocacy, and collaboration with civil society, there is room for improvement in the domestic application of WPS principles. Key areas include ensuring consistent funding and promoting the meaningful participation of women in peace processes at all levels. To further its contribution, the UK needs to focus on enhancing accountability for sexual violence, addressing emerging threats through a gender lens, learning from international best practices, formalizing civil society engagement, and considering legislative measures to solidify its commitments. This submission draws from information from the United Nations Security Council and the development of National Action Plans to consider UK’s adherence to WPS agenda and make recommendations on how this can be improved.

Current Observable Trends and Challenges

In the adherence to the international Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, several trends can be observed. First, there is a growing global recognition of the importance of the WPS agenda and its integrations in over 90 countries with the intention to incorporate a gender perspective across conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery. Second, there has been increased focus on meaningful women participation in all the stages of peace processes and political decision-making. While progress has been made in ensuring this key pillar of the agenda, women remain underrepresented in formal peace negotiations and political bodies in many conflict-affected areas. Third, although emphasis has been placed on the protection of women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and other human rights abuses, this remains a critical focus with increasing attention on accountability for perpetrators and support for survivors. Fourth, prevention of conflict is a growing area that is gaining prominence because, it places emphasis on gendered drivers, such as gender inequality, discrimination and conflict prevention.

The WPS agenda is evolving to address contemporary challenges such as the impact of digital technology and climate change on women and girls in conflict and crisis settings. It is also increasing its partnership and collaboration efforts between governments, international organizations, civil society organizations (including women-led organizations), and grassroots movements. Despite the standardising progress, a significant gap remains between policy and its implementation in practice. Transforming gender mainstreaming policies into tangible actions in real-time is often difficult due to factors such as lack of political will, insufficient funding, and resistance from traditional power structures. In some contexts, there are concerning trends of pushback against women's rights and the WPS agenda, with attempts aimed at undermining existing protections and limiting women's participation.

The UK has historically been a strong proponent of the WPS agenda and plays a significant role internationally. The UK championed the agenda and co-sponsored the groundbreaking UNSCR S/RES/1325 (2000), which addresses the impact of war on women and the importance of women's full and equal participation in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction. In addition, the UK has a well-developed policy framework on WPS, which demonstrates commitment to the agenda's principles. The UK has developed multiple action plans which demonstrates its commitment to translating the international agenda into national policy and action (the current UK NAP covers the period 2023-2027 and outlines strategic objectives around participation, preventing gender-based violence, and supporting women and girls in crises). The UK has also integrated the WPS agenda into its foreign policy, development programs, and defence strategies (it launched initiatives such as the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) to address CRSV). In addition, it has been a significant funder of UN agencies, civil society organizations and other entities in the development and implementation of WPS-related issues and policies.

Areas for Improvement/Recommendations

 While the UK's focus has often been on the international application of WPS, there is a growing recognition of the need to address the domestic implications of peace and security for women within the UK, particularly regarding gender-based violence, translating the UK's strong WPS policies into effective action and ensuring that commitments lead to substantive outcomes. Others include linking WPS agenda to more reliable and patient funding, strengthening the UK's arms transfer control regime to ensure adherence to the Arms Trade Treaty, and including robust gender awareness in risk assessments. Additionally, the UK needs to ensure that gender considerations are systematically and consistently integrated into all aspects of its foreign and defence policies. Drawing from the trends in the international WPS agenda and areas identified for improvement, the UK can enhance its contribution by:

• Developing and implementing concrete actions to domesticate the WPS agenda by addressing issues such as gender-based violence within the UK and ensuring that national policies reflect WPS principles. This could involve creating opportunities for policy dialogue and promoting WPS relevance across devolved administrations.

• Ensuring consistent funding by committing to sustained and predictable funding for WPS-related initiatives, both internationally and domestically, to ensure the longevity and impact of its programs.

• Increasing gender analysis by strengthening the integration of comprehensive gender analysis in all foreign policy, development, and security strategies to better understand the gendered dynamics of conflict and insecurity.

• Promoting Women's Meaningful Participation by increasing efforts to ensure women's meaningful participation in all UK-led or supported peacebuilding and political processes, including providing targeted support for women mediators and negotiators.

• Integrating a gender perspective into the UK's approach to addressing emerging security threats such as climate change, cyber warfare, violent extremism and recognizing their impact on women and girls.

• Actively learning and sharing best practices from the experiences of other countries that are making progress in specific areas of WPS implementation and, sharing the UK's expertise and best practices internationally.

• Continuing to champion efforts to hold perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence accountable and providing comprehensive support to survivors.

• Establishing stronger formal mechanisms for the consistent engagement of civil society organizations, particularly women's organizations, in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the UK's WPS agenda.

• Enshrining the UK's WPS commitments in law to ensure that the agenda remains a priority across different government administrations and ensuring that it is systematically integrated into the UK’s foreign and defence policy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UK has established itself as a significant international actor in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Its commitment is evident in its policy frameworks and advocacy on the global stage. However, to truly maximize its impact and align more fully with the evolving international WPS agenda, the UK needs to prioritize bridging the gap between policy and its implementation in practice. This requires a more robust focus on the domestic application of WPS principles, ensuring consistent and reliable funding for related initiatives, and systematically integrating gender analysis across all relevant policy areas. This submission argues that by addressing the identified areas for improvement and drawing upon international best practices, the UK will further solidify its global leadership role in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in conflict, sustainable peacebuilding and security.