WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 3/15;
Conflict Prevention: 2/15;
Disarmament: 1/15;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/15;
Participation: 3/15;
Peace Processes: 3/15;
Peacekeeping: 3/15;
Protection: 4/15;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 3/15;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 3/15;
Implementation: 2/15;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 2/15;
Human Rights: 3/15.

S/PV.6948: "We need such commitments to end the treatment of rape and sexual violence as a secondary issue and to put women and women’s rights front and centre in conflict resolution."

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 2013.

Arms Transfer Revenue in 2012: $934,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2012: $18,850,000

UK Government Stabilisation/Conflict Advisers are supported by the Conflict Pool funding in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen and from FY2012-13 in Libya. UK Government Regional Conflict Advisers are to be appointed for North Africa, Near East and the Middle East and appointees’ terms of reference will include women, peace and security;

The Foreign Secretary and Ms Jolie visited the DRC in March 2013 to highlight the issue of sexual violence in DRC and show how the UK, along with the G8, is trying to end it. The UK‟s Team of Experts on sexual violence have deployed to DRC. They have focused on building local Congolese capacity to improve the ability of health, legal and law enforcement professionals to investigate and document sexual violence crimes, and ultimately to support these individuals collect and preserve forensic and other evidence;

From 2010-14 DFID are also providing £3.25 million to a UN Women Programme, From Communities to Global Security Institutions: Engaging Women in Building Peace and Security‟. The Programme focuses on strengthening women's security and voice in peacebuilding at community, national, and international level. At the community level, there are five focus countries: Uganda, Timor-Leste, Haiti, Liberia and South Sudan.

HDI (Human Development Index):
The United Kingdom was ranked 12th.

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

In the United Kingdom, women ages 60 and older are more likely than men of the same age to have a low income, and women who have had lower status or part-time work generally get a lower occupational pension (p. 67).

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

MONUSCO (0),

UNFICYP (16),

UNMISS (0).

S/PV.6903: "Women protection advisers will increasingly play a critical role in preventing further horrific incidences of sexual violence, in protecting vulnerable populations, and in promoting the participation of women in peace settlements and political life. My Foreign Minister is personally committed to supporting such endeavours, and we warmly welcome the Secretary-General’s call for greater representation of women in the prevention and resolution of armed conflict and in peacebuilding."

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:
2013: 163,709.

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 2013:
- 8th Global Conference: The Erotic
- Cross Cutting Disability Research Programme (CCDRP) Final Dissemination Conference, focus on "Disabled women's maternal and newborn care practices and access to participatory women's groups"

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 2012: $58,496,000,000
______
The UK NAP does mention its intent to allocate a budget for monitoring and evaluation.

Lower:22.5%;

Upper:22.6%.

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

Senior-ranked female chief inspectors: 18.0%;
Constable-ranked female officers: 29.7%

Female: 879;
Male: 2,742.

Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.85.

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

Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 29,193;
Male: 40,000;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.73.

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

Professional and technical workers (%):
Female: 48, Male: 52;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.92.

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): 1.02.

Enrolment in tertiary education
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.38.

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. During the reporting period, the national government reported increased detection and prosecution of forced labour and sex trafficking offenders, and courts handed down significant penalties in some cases. In 2012, the government, in partnership with NGOs and other stakeholders, continued to review and assess its overall approach to combat trafficking. The national government improved its identification of trafficking victims in the country and increased the number of trafficking victims who received access to care. It implemented prevention programmes in relevant source countries and continued to implement its 2011 anti-trafficking strategy. However, challenges remain: victim protection experts and international observers urged the UK government to implement additional victim-centred policies, such as a system of guardianship for child trafficking victims, in order to improve its anti-trafficking results.

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. 

In March 2013, the Government published a further refreshed version of the action plan. The new plan sets out significant progress since the last report was published a year ago. The updated plan looks at challenging the attitudes that foster 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 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;

289 shelters provided by 178 NGOs with approximately 3,577 shelter places available;

46 rape Crisis centres run by independent women’s NGOs;

30 Sexual Assault referral centres (SArCs) run by the Health Service.

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

36 shelters available with 227 places for women survivors of violence;

7 centres for women survivors of sexual violence.

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 run by independent NGOs with approximately 509 shelter places available.

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.

In January 2013, the government supported a new anti-trafficking campaign launched by an NGO to raise public awareness of signs of human trafficking and forced labour and to encourage citizens to report any potential cases they witnessed; the Police Service in the Northern Ireland also supported the campaign and provided funding to help front-line police officers identify victims of trafficking. Furthermore, the Northern Ireland police created a database to serve as a knowledge-sharing forum on trafficking for its officers. During the year, the government partnered with the airline industry and launched an e-learning package to train airline staff on human trafficking and ways to report indicators of the crime.

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: 149,330.

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.

In 2013, out of out of 23,584 asylum applicants overall, 6396 women came to the UK to claim asylum. During 2013, 2038 women who had come to the UK to seek asylum were detained. 43% were held for more than a month.

***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.