WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 3/17;
Conflict Prevention: 3/17;
Disarmament: 1/17;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 1/17;
Participation: 2/17;
Peace Processes: 2/17;
Peacekeeping: 3/17;
Protection: 6/17;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 2/17;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 5/17;
Implementation: 3/17;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 5/17;
Human Rights: 3/17.

S/PV.6706: "The United Kingdom is committed to spending 30 percent of its growing development assistance in countries affected by conflict, which among other things will help 12 million women to access justice through the courts, the police and legal assistance."

WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 0/3;
Conflict Prevention: 0/3;
Disarmament: 0/3;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/3;
Participation: 0/3;
Peace Processes: 0/3;
Peacekeeping: 0/3;
Protection: 1/3;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/3;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 0/3;
Implementation: 0/3;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 1/3;
Human Rights: 0/3.

S/PV.6705: "The United Kingdom is committed to spending 30 percent of its growing development assistance in countries affected by conflict, which among other things will help 12 million women to access justice through the courts, the police and legal assistance."

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 2012.

Arms Transfer Revenue in 2011: $1,040,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2011: $19,700,000

DFID funded £60m five year Security Sector Accountability and Police Reform (SSAPR) project in DRC which includes a community policing component that will identify where needs are greatest, develop SGBV focused police units and build capacity to operate effectively;

DFID supports to the Prime Minister’s Office - Gender Based Violence Unit through The Asia Foundation (TAF) on a project “Combating Gender-Based Violence in Nepal”. The goal of this project is that the GoN has enhanced capacity to combat GBV in Nepal. The purpose of the project is to enhance the ability of the GBV Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) to effectively oversee the formulation, coordination, and implementation of state policy and commitment to combating all forms of GBV;

A key theme of the UK's work was on building the capacity of women in the region to tackle issues relating to WPS, particularly by strengthening
regional and national networks. For example in Libya projects to support women's empowerment has included a 14-month project run by Danish Church Aid (DCA). This provides training and mentoring to Libyan civil society throughout the country to promote women's participation in the political and public life and women's inclusion in the constitution draughting process;

In November 2012, DFID launched a new VAWG Research and Innovation Fund of up to £25 million, to generate high quality and policy relevant data and evidence on what works for the prevention of violence against women and girls. 

HDI (Human Development Index):
The United Kingdom was ranked 26th.

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),

UNFICYP (14),

UNMISS (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: 15+;
- 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:
2012: 162,915.

The Women's Resource Centre is the leading national umbrella 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 2012:
- International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics;
- UNC Water and Health Conference, focus on sanitation and violence against women.

Purpose:
The UK National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security and associated UN Resolutions, is intended to strengthen our ability to reduce the impact of conflict on women and girls, and to promote their inclusion in conflict resolution. It provides a framework to ensure that the provisions of UN resolutions on Women, Peace and Security are incorporated into the Government’s work on conflict in our defence, diplomatic and development activity. The NAP draws together the work undertaken across government. It is jointly owned by the MOD, DFID and the FCO and is also fully integrated into the work undertaken by Lynne Featherstone MP as Ministerial Champion for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Overseas.

Objectives:
"A Revised NAP was published in November 2010 which put in place a clear framework for our work on Women, Peace and Security covering the period November 2010 – November 2013. The NAP aims are; to maximise the impact of UK efforts by focusing on where we have the most influence; to ensure cross-departmental working; to ensure that UK action covers the four UN pillars of UNSCR 1325 (prevention, protection, participation, and relief and recovery); to strengthen our annual reporting and monitoring process; and to work more closely with civil society to improve the plan on an ongoing basis."

The 2012 NAP revision makes commitments to further implementation of UNSCR 1325 and associated resolutions in four main areas of our activity:

National Action sets out how the FCO, MOD and DFID will integrate ‘Women, Peace and Security’ into our conflict policy. The main commitments are:
• Training Gender considerations will be incorporated into our training on conflict in the FCO, DfID, Stabilisation Unit and MOD;
• Programmes Our programmes to address conflict will consider the needs of women and girls;
• Operations We will work to mainstream gender considerations into core working practices (e.g. the deployment of Female Engagement Officers in support of UK battle groups, to improve military engagement with female Afghan civilians).

Bilateral Action sets out actions being taken on the ground in priority conflict or post-conflict countries, by means of individual country plans delivered by our network of embassies and country offices. Country plans have been developed for three countries initially and we aim to increase this during the life of the NAP. Initial plans have been developed by Posts in:
• Afghanistan Includes actions to support Afghan women’s civil society organisations, the influence of Afghan women in public life and to enhance their protection through support to legal reforms and SSR programmes;
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Includes actions to improve protection of women protection through programmes that support reforms in security and legal services; increase the influence of women in public life and help survivors of sexual and gender-based violence;
• Nepal Includes actions to support the Government’s attempts to strengthen implementation of UNSCR 1325, programmes to increase women’s participation in public life and assistance for survivors of sexual or gender-based violence.

Regional Action sets out actions being taken on the ground in regions affected by conflict, starting with a regional plan for the Middle East and North Africa Region. This is the first Regional Plan and the aim is to maximise regional working and engagement on the women, peace and security agenda.

Multilateral Action sets out how our actions in multilateral and regional organisations such as the UN, EU and NATO will strengthen implementation of UNSCR 1325 at a global level. The main commitments are:
• To provide political support, through the UN Security Council, for measures to enhance the UN’s institutional approach to UNSCR 1325, including through UN peacekeeping mission mandates, its ability to measure progress and ensuring a prominent profile for UNSCR 1325 in the Security Council;
• To provide political support for measures to incorporate UNSCR 1325 into the political and operational activities of the EU and
NATO.

Military Expenditure in 2011: $60,270,000,000
______
The NAP does not include an allocated or an estimated budget. 

Lower:22.3%;

Upper:21.9%.

Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.21.

Senior-ranked female chief inspectors: 16.3%;
Constable-ranked female officers: 29.4%.

Female: 807;
Male: 2,768.

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

Unemployment rate (percentage of female/male labour force):
Female: 7%;
Male: 9%.

Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 29,752;
Male: 40,000;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.74.

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): 1.40.

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 utilizing 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 of the United Kingdom continued to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenders. The transparent nature of the UK government and the significant level of information available allowed NGOs and the government to make comprehensive, candid assessments of the UK’s anti-trafficking efforts during the year.

Following a review in 2011, the government published an updated action plan in March 2012, containing 100 actions across areas like prevention, provision of services, partnership working, justice outcomes and reducing risk to victims.

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 of all ages) and their families. 

While specialised 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 are not fully effective. 

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

1,000 women’s shelters run by around 240 separate NGOs with approximately 4,200 shelter places available;

46 rape crisis centres run by independent women’s NGOs providing long-term specialist support and advocacy free of charge to all women and girls who have experienced any form of sexual violence.

Wales:

1 national 24 hour free women’s helpline;

47 women’s shelters run by 36 separate NGOs with approximately 287 shelter places available;

180 women’s centres run by the 30 independent women’s NGOs affiliated with Welsh Women’s Aid.

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

13 women’s shelters run by independent NGOs with approximately 390 shelter places available.

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

45 women’s shelters with approximately 509 shelter places available;

13 rape crisis centres providing support to survivors of rape and sexual violence.

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. 

The government continued to initiate, support, and implement a wide range of anti-trafficking prevention programmes in the UK during the reporting period. In September 2012 Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights launched an inquiry into the human rights of unaccompanied migrant children in the UK, who are vulnerable to trafficking. On December 20, 2012, a cross-party group of members of Parliament and Lords held the first human trafficking parliamentary debate to highlight their concerns about the government’s response to trafficking. Some anti-trafficking experts in the UK continued to criticise the government’s 2011 anti-trafficking strategy for its emphasis on border control. The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC), 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 nongovernmental stakeholders involved in anti-trafficking; however NGOs note the government has yet to appoint a single point of contact or national coordinator with whom to communicate. In August 2012 the UKHTC produced an assessment of trafficking in the UK. During the year, the government established a 15-member inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking to act in the role of national rapporteur; the group published its first report in October 2012. In 2012, the government continued to investigate and implement trafficking prevention programmes in partnership with NGOs in source countries. Finally, in advance of the Olympic Games the government set up the London 2012 Network, comprising anti-trafficking NGOs, law enforcement, UKHTC, and the Mayor of London’s office to raise awareness of human trafficking and to prevent it before and during the Olympics. The government reported there was no increase in trafficking during the Olympics, and the organisers of the Rio Olympics are studying the model.

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: 168,886.

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.

Only just over 6000 women came to the UK to seek asylum in 2012. Women seeking asylum in the UK are often fleeing extreme human rights abuses: 49% have experienced arrest or imprisonment; 32% have been raped by soldiers, police or prison guards; 48% have been raped as part of the persecution they are fleeing; 66% have experienced some form of serious gender-related persecution including female genital mutilation, sexual violence or forced prostitution.

*** 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.