Recommendation 7

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

Government Response to Recommendations 45 and 46: Partially Agree (45), Partially Agree (46) 18. Recognising the limits of our direct control over conflicts abroad, the UK focuses its support on influencing others and standing behind all women, advocating for them to participate safely and meaningfully in efforts to prevent conflict and build sustainable, inclusive peace. 19. Acknowledging the importance of all four pillars of the WPS agenda, the UK recognises and champions the important role women play in conflict prevention and resolution. This is underscored by the highest levels of conflict since World War II, the disproportionate impact on women, a concerted rollback on women’s rights, and geopolitics weakening cooperation and adherence to the rule of law. The UK champions women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes, and more broadly, in decision-making processes at local, regional, and national levels. 20. However, despite the recommendation to prioritise conflict prevention and resolution, it cannot be ignored that women’s participation in peace and security discussions is reducing due to the threat of reprisals. The UK’s commitment remains unwavering: lasting peace and security are impossible without women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation – free from threats and reprisals. Protection, participation and prevention go hand in hand. 21. Additionally, the Foreign Secretary has reaffirmed UK leadership on WPS, with priorities that extend beyond this recommendation, including to champion women’s participation in peacebuilding, but also to tackle impunity for sexual violence, and prioritise crisis responsive humanitarian support for women and girls. 22. In November 2025, the Foreign Secretary hosted an event with the Minister for Veterans and People to commemorate the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. This gathered Women’s Rights and Civil Society Organisations to highlight the challenges women face on the ground, and to discuss what more could be done in the next 25 years of the WPS agenda. The Foreign Secretary set out a renewed determination to put WPS at the heart of UK foreign policy, committing to amplifying women’s voices and participation in peacebuilding, recognising that peace agreements endure when women shape them. 23. The UK’s fifth NAP on WPS outlines how the Government integrates UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions into development, security, defence and diplomacy work. It also emphasises the Government’s commitment to promoting women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, supporting protection for women and girls in conflict-affected areas, and mainstreaming gender perspectives across development, foreign, defence and security policies. The Government will review the current commitments related to conflict prevention and resolution as part of the 2026 WPS NAP Refresh. 24. The UK notes with concern that the number and quality of peace agreements to end violent conflict has fallen over the reporting period and that peace-making is increasingly moving away from multilateralism towards bilateral deal making. The UK remains firmly committed to increasing the safe and meaningful participation of women in conflict resolution. We have supported local women’s rights organisations and women peacebuilders to participate in and improve the sustainability of peace and security processes in fragile and conflict affected states. 25. The UK assumed the role of Elsie Initiative Fund co-chair in January 2025 for that year, reflecting its commitment to gender equality in peacekeeping and contributed £500,000 in FY 25/26 to support the Elsie Initiative Fund. As co-chair, the UK helped steer strategic direction, endorse project proposals, and promote best practices in gender-responsive peacekeeping. 26. Throughout its co-chairship of the Elsie Initiative Fund the UK placed women’s leadership at the centre of our efforts - not just increasing numbers but creating environments where women in peacekeeping are empowered to lead, influence decisions, and drive meaningful change. The UK contributed an additional £500,000 in 2025 to support the Elsie Initiative Fund. As co-chair, the UK helped steer strategic direction, endorse project proposals, and promote best practices in gender-responsive peacekeeping. 27. Additionally, the UK is prioritising efforts to anticipate and prevent crises by strengthening early warning systems and by improving our understanding of how mitigating conflict and atrocity risks can better protect the most vulnerable – particularly women and girls. Alongside diplomacy, we support peacebuilding through our support to multi-lateral partners. Our human rights and development programmes address the root causes of conflict and reduce the likelihood of future atrocities. We also support efforts to strengthen security sector governance and promote stabilisation, helping countries such as Ukraine to achieve sustainable and