WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 1/14;
Conflict Prevention: 1/14;
Disarmament: 0/14;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/14;
Participation: 1/14;
Peace Processes: 1/14;
Peacekeeping: 1/14;
Protection: 2/14;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 2/14;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 2/14;
Implementation: 1/14;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 2/14;
Human Rights: 1/14.

S/PV.6642: "The United Kingdom believes that women’s inclusion in political settlements and peace processes, the protection of women and girls in situations of armed violence, and women’s access to security and justice are essential building blocks for more peaceful and stable societies."

**Note: Data is provided for 2012. There were no Security Council open debates on the threats caused by terrorist acts in 2011. 

Implementation & Protection:
Approved a new National Action Plan that sets out our future commitments, including specific strategies for supporting women in priority countries including Afghanistan, Nepal and DRC.

S/PV.6411: "Making this difference, i.e. protecting women and supporting their participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding is a global challenge that requires action by all Member States."
 

**Note: Data is provided for 2010. No WPS commitments have been made in 2011.

Revenue Arms Transfer in 2010: $1,151,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2010: $7,200,000

In 2011, the UK established a joint FCO/DFID Arab Partnership Fund to specifically address political and economic participation in the MENA Region. This Fund complements the existing (established 1999) tri-departmental Conflict Pool10, to which the MOD also contributes, and which has a mandate to support proposals that address the women peace and security agenda. Support for practical intervention to implement UNSCR 1325 using programme funds will primarily come from the Conflict Pool. Arab Partnership funds will mainly be used for broader support to women’s initiatives and capacity building;

The UK has country-wide programmes that encompass gender issues in Afghanistan. In October 2011, the Department for International Development (DFID) with its Nordic partners launched the Tawanmandi: Strengthening Civil Society in Afghanistan project. This is a five-year project to promote greater engagement between the Afghan Government and Afghan civil society and help them to hold the Afghan Government to account. We continue to work closely with the Government of Afghanistan, local and international non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and international partners to improve the role and status of women in Afghanistan so that they can participate as fully as possible in a peaceful and stable Afghan state in future;

The UK also provides funding to strengthen the role of the DRC Ministry of Gender;

DFID provides funding for a ‘Community Recovery Programme’ (£90.6m over 5 years, managed by the International Rescue Committee and CARE) which aims to increase the capacity and visibility of existing women elected representatives.
 

HDI (Human Development Index):
The United Kingdom was ranked 28th.

The United Kingdom is included in the "Very High Human Development" category.

Women from the United Kingdom are on duty in the following peacekeeping missions:

MONUSCO (0),

UNAMI (0),

UNFICYP (30),

UNMIS (0).

The representatives of the United Kingdom made no statements at the meetings of the Security Council on its position on the sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers.

Key women's organisation's (Women's Resource Centre) efforts in regard to gender issues include the following:
- Number of conferences: 10+;
- Number of publications: 10 (project reports);
- Social services provided: support member women NGOs to be more effective and sustainable through training, and we lobby the government on their behalf on a range of women’s issues.

Types of social support provided:
Education: Yes
Anti-violence: Yes
Women's empowerment: Yes
Gender-related training: Yes
Political participation: Yes
Anti-human trafficking: Yes
Women's health: Yes
Lobbying and policymaking: Yes
Fundraising: Yes

Number of officially registered NGO charities by year:
2011: 161,649.

The Women's Resource Centre is the leading national body for women's charities, with over 500 members. The centre provides training, information, resources and one-to-one support on a range of organisational development issues while also lobbying decision makers on behalf of the women’s not-for-profit sector for improved representation and funding.

The UK's Department for International Development has committed 85.10% (£502.5m) in aid to governmental and civil society organisations/projects. Out of this amount, 6.83% (£34.3m) is committed to women's organisations and institutions.

The UK hosted the following high-level events in 2011:
- Women Reaching Women Conference;
- UK launch of World Development Report on Gender Equality;
- GirlGuiding UK.

The 2010 UK NAP has the following pillars:
Support to the United Nations;
Training and policing;
Gender Justice;
Disarmament;
Partnership with NGOs.
 

Military Expenditure in 2010: $58,083,000,000
______
The NAP does not include an allocated or an estimated budget. 

Lower:22.3%;

Upper:21.9%.

Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.20.

Senior-ranked female chief inspectors: 14.8%;
Constable-ranked female officers: 29.0%.

Female: 824;
Male: 2,870.

Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.84.

Unemployment rate (percentage of female/male labour force):
Female: 6%;
Male: 6%.

Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 28,354;
Male: 40,000;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.71.

Legislators, senior officials, and managers (%):
Female: 35, Male: 65;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.53.

Professional and technical workers (%):
Female: 47, Male: 53;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.90.

The enrolment difference between males and females is provided below (The theoretical maximum value is 100%. Increasing trends are considered a reflection of improving coverage at the specified level of education):

Literacy rate (%):
Female: 99;
Male: 99;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.

Enrolment in primary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.

Enrolment in secondary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.03.

Enrolment in tertiary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.39.

While gender perspectives within the legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective, and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.

Unlike many other nations, the United Kingdom has no single constitutional document, and is instead the sum of laws and principles that make up the "unwritten" constitution of the United Kingdom.

The Constitution guarantees equal treatment based on gender, while additionally including provisions for potential positive action based on gender.

Presence of gender perspective in the UK Constitution:
- European Communities Act (1972);
- Human Rights Act (1998).

Presence of gender perspective in the UK Legal framework:
- Equal Pay Act (1970);
- Sex Discrimination Act (1975);
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003);
- UK Equality Act 2006;
- UK Gender Equality Duty 2007;
- UK Equality Act 2007;
- The Maternity and Parental Leave etc. and the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations (2006);
- UK Equality Act 2010;
- UK Equality Strategy – Building a Fairer Britain (2006 –2016);
- UK Strategy “Think, Act, Report” (Gender Equality in the Workplace);
- Equal Pay Act (1970);
- Sex Discrimination Act (1975);
- Maternity Leave and Pay Regulations (1975);
- Paternity Leave and Pay Regulations (2003);
- Flexible Working Regulations (2003);
- Equality Act (2010);
- The UK Government has established a new Inter-Ministerial Group on Equalities to develop and oversee implementation of a strategy to deliver the Government's equality commitments (2011);
- Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation (2016);
- Strategy to end violence against women and girls: 2016 to 2020.

While legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective, and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.

The government of the United Kingdom fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government demonstrated vigorous prosecutions and convictions of sex trafficking offenders in England, obtaining during the reporting period the highest sentence on record for trafficking in the United Kingdom. The UK government improved its prosecution of forced labour offenses and continued to implement its National Referral Mechanism (NRM). NGOs, however, continued to report inadequate and inconsistent protection efforts for trafficking victims in the UK. 

While legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective, and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.

The government published an action plan committing the government to a wide range of actions to end violence against women and girls.

While veterans services for women veterans exist, the quality of service, outreach to engage female veterans in service access and utalisation, and the availability of gender-sensitive services at all locations are not fully effective.

Since 1921, the British Royal Legion provided practical support to serving men and women, veterans (ex-service members of all ages) and their families. 

While specialized services to support victims/survivors of sexual violence exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism is not fully effective. 

England:
1 national 24 hour free women’s helpline;

920 shelters run by 330 separate organisations;

46 Rape Crisis Centres run by independent women’s NGO;

30 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) run by the Health Service.

Northern Ireland:
1 national 24 hour free women’s helpline;

13 shelters run by local Women’s Aid groups;

10 local Women’s Aid groups deliver a range of support services to women and children who experienced domestic violence.

Scotland:
2 national 24 hour free women’s helplines;

45 women’s shelters run by Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

Wales:
1 national 24 hour free women’s helpline run by Welsh Women’s Aid;

47 shelters run by 36 organisations.

While specialised services to support victims/survivors of human trafficking exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective. 

During the year, the government conducted a review to assess and revise its overall anti-trafficking strategy; as a result of this review, the government opted in to the 2010 EU directive on trafficking in March 2011. The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC), now under the direction of the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) continued to serve as a multi-agency, centralised point for the development of expertise among governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental stakeholders involved in anti-trafficking. In July 2011, the UK government adopted a new government strategy on trafficking. Some anti-trafficking experts in the UK criticised the strategy for its emphasis on border control. The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre, under the direction of the Serious Organized Crime Agency, continued to serve as a multi-agency, centralised point for the development of expertise among governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental stakeholders involved in anti-trafficking. Official training programmes included mandatory sessions on human trafficking for new police officers. In April 2011, authorities in Northern Ireland completed a three-month Blue Blindfold campaign that targeted approximately 500,000 residents to raise their awareness of trafficking. The government provided anti-trafficking training to UK troops prior to their deployment abroad as part of international peacekeeping missions in 2011.

While a wide range of services and resources are made available to refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs, these services are usually provided by local service providers, therefore making these services and resources less available in some geographic locations.

Total population of refugees, stateless persons, IDPs, and asylum-seekers: 208,885.

Between Sep. 2010 and Sep. 2011, more than 70% had experienced violence either in their country of origin or in the UK
- 57% had experienced gender based violence in their country of origin;
- 44% had been raped;
- Just under 30% had been tortured;
- 33% had fled ethnic persecution;
- Half had mental health needs and over 20% had acute mental health problems;
- 33% had been refused asylum;
- More than 20% were destitute;
- More than 20% had experienced gender based violence since arriving in the UK.
The experiences of women we have directly supported inform the following policy recommendations.

The UK’s national laws are subject to the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention. Unlike the Human Rights Convention, the Refugee Convention has not been directly incorporated into UK domestic law, but its provisions influence the formulation of immigration rules, and practices contrary to the Convention are not permitted.

*** While the state meets all assessed criteria, the UK asylum system is strictly controlled and complex, which may impact rights and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.