(MOD input to part three)
As a global leader on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the UK was one of the first countries to devise a National Action Plan (NAP), now in its third iteration (2014 – 2017).
The NAP commits Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) to: ‘put women and girls at the centre of all our efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, to promote peace and stability, and to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls’. The NAP articulates HMG’s objectives to fulfil this requirement, both domestically and overseas.
A NAP Implementation Plan was laid before Parliament and then published in December 2014. Progress made against the targets in the NAP is independently monitored and evaluated so HMG can assess its effectiveness.
A report detailing HMG’s progress against the NAP, and the impact of projects being delivered in the NAP-focus countries (Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Syria and Somalia) will be submitted to Parliament in Autumn 2015.
The MOD has 19 actions within the current NAP and is making good progress against these.
No MOD input required
The Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) is a Departmental priority for MOD. The UK military is at the forefront of doctrinal best practice in PSVI and the MOD Defence Concepts and Doctrine Centre considers WPS and PSVI issues in all its work.
The MOD has taken significant steps to ensure every member of the UK Armed Forces has an awareness of the PSVI, and to ensure our personnel are trained to protect and empower women and girls in conflict. UK military training already incorporates PSVI, and is being refreshed with the latest thinking.
Please see the table below for further information on UK military training on the PSVI.
ID | ACTIVITY | LOCATION | TIMEFRAME | OUTCOME/IMPACT | COSTS (Approximate) | FUNDING SOURCE |
1 | Each Single Service (sS) mandates Core Diversity and Inclusion training that covers sexual harassment, respect of others, and other forms of harassment. | sS training establishments | Delivered in week one of training | Provides new entrants with an awareness of law, definitions of harassment and discrimination, and the business case for treating others with respect. | One Service instructor for one hour per entry | Core funding |
2 | Each sS has Advanced Diversity and Inclusion training that covers sexual harassment, respect of others, and other forms of harassment. | sS training establishments | Delivered every two years to OF5 (Army Colonel and equivalent level) and below | Delivers training and facilitates discussion on aspects of equality law, definitions of harassment and discrimination, and the business case for treating others with respect. | Unit carries costs | Core funding |
3 | Each sS has Senior Officers Diversity and Inclusion training which covers sexual harassment, respect of others, as well as other forms of harassment. | Defence Academy, Shrivenham | Remains valid for three years | Delivers training and facilitates discussion from a command perspective on aspects of equality law, definitions of harassment and discrimination, and the business case for treating others with respect. | One external facilitator for one day per course (one course per month). | Core funding |
4 | Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) for augmentees | sS training establishments | As required | Training delivered to personnel in accordance with syllabus provided by Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). Subject matter varies according to deployment destination. | Costs vary according to the nature of the training | Core funding |
5 | PDT for units and formations | In unit, delivered as part of the unit pre-deployment training package | Prior to deployment | Training delivered to Armed Forced personnel in accordance with syllabus provided by PJHQ. Subject matter is tailored according to deployment destination. | Costs vary according to the nature of the training | Core funding |
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sexual Violence in Conflict are central to the promotion of guidance and best practice.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has a dedicated Office of the Gender Advisor and a Centre of Excellence on gender - the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (SWEDINT) based in Sweden. Both the NATO Office and SWEDINT regularly update Member States on policy and doctrine relating to gender via national Gender Advisors or Gender Focal Points.
There is an annual conference held by NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP), and this forum is used to share best practice and lessons identified.
The UK is an integral member of the NCGP, having twice held the Deputy Chair role, and has supported the development of Bi-Strategic Directive 40-1, which is NATO’s best-practice document for integrating UNSCR 1325 into military policy and activity.
In the European Union (EU), the European Institute for Gender Equality promotes gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and the resulting national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex; it also raises EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality. Its work flows in to EU Common Security and Defence Policy considerations, where all missions and operations support a clear gender issues policy. This policy states explicitly the code of conduct and standard of behaviour expected of all those engaged within the EU mission or operations. All major EU training initiatives incorporate training on sexual violence issues.
The UK is at the heart of policy and decision making within international organisations such as NATO, the EU, and the UN. This informs our own national doctrine and training which is provided to all Armed Forces personnel at the entry, career development and pre-deployment stages.
UK Armed Forces seek to share and integrate good practice with other nations both directly, through training courses delivered in the UK and overseas, and through their own good conduct when operating alongside allied and partner forces.
Furthermore, most of the MOD’s research projects in this field (for example, the review of Female Engagement Teams and PSVI training development packages) are widely shared with allies and partners.
HMG has recently appointed a senior officer, Lieutenant General Gordon Messenger (Royal Marine), as the WPS / PSVI Champion for the Armed Forces.
The MOD provides significant training and support to the armed forces of overseas countries, either through UK based institutions or overseas training establishments. A list of the activities which contain PSVI / WPS is articulated in the activity matrix dated 16 July 2015 that the MOD provided to the Select Committee: Serials 6 – 38 in its previous submission.
There is no one measure of effectiveness for all these courses, but all British military training courses contain an element of evaluation by participants and scrutiny from military training experts. There is continuous internal monitoring and improvement of training provided by the Department by the MOD’s training experts. The training by the UK Armed Forces has a global reputation par excellence.
The UK and NATO Alliance members work through the Operations Committee and the NCGP to prevent and reduce conflict-related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Planning is closely associated with existing UN Resolutions (e.g. UNSCR 1325) and is in strict accordance with international law. On 13 July the North Atlantic Council passed the ‘Military guidelines on the prevention of, and response to, conflict-related SGBV’. Partner Nations, as well as Australia, Afghanistan, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates, also associated themselves with the guidelines.
The UK also works with the EU to ensure that all missions and operations support a clear gender issues policy, which states explicitly the code of conduct and standard of behaviour expected of all those engaged within the EU mission or operations. All major EU training initiatives incorporate training on sexual violence issues.