Women, Peace and Security Annual Report

Statement

My noble friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa (Lord Collins of Highbury) has today made the following statement:

I wish to inform the House, that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, together with the Ministry of Defence, are today publishing the 2024 annual report on progress against the UK’s fifth Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan (NAP).

The report published today demonstrates the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, outlining progress since February 2024, and against the NAP’s five strategic objectives. The report also provides case studies on the NAP’s implementation objectives, and has included case studies from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Syria, Ukraine, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Sudan.

The Government has committed to build on the approach and ambition of the UK’s current and fifth NAP, published under the previous Government in February 2023, advancing implementation and updating priorities. As part of the Government’s commitment to transparency, we will engage with civil society, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on WPS, as we refresh the NAP and prior to publication.

The recently published Strategic Defence Review (SDR) makes clear the threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. The SDR sets out a vision to make Britain safer, secure at home and strong abroad. As we invest into Defence we must recognise that the Women, Peace and Security agenda is critical to our success. This means strengthening women’s representation in security and defence, as well as ensuring that gender dynamics are fully considered in our approach to national security, transnational threats and operational effectiveness.

In this 25th anniversary year of the WPS agenda, I want to reiterate the Government’s commitment to advancing women’s full, equal meaningful and safe participation in political, security and peace processes. This Government will continue to advance gender equality and empower women and girls through our international action.