WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 4/20;
Conflict Prevention: 2/20;
Disarmament: 0/20;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 1/20;
Participation: 4/20;
Peace Processes: 3/20;
Peacekeeping: 3/20;
Protection: 4/20;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/20;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 1/20;
Implementation: 1/20;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 1/20;
Human Rights: 2/20.

S/PV.7289: "Pregnant women are particularly at risk. We are providing essential equipment to new mothers and pregnant women in Iraq and reproductive health services for women in Jordan. We also provide financial support for vulnerable Syrian women who are thought to be at risk of coerced marriage."

WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 1/5;
Conflict Prevention: 0/5;
Disarmament: 0/5;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/5;
Participation: 1/5;
Peace Processes: 0/5;
Peacekeeping: 0/5;
Protection: 1/5;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/5;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 0/5;
Implementation: 0/5;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 1/5;
Human Rights: 0/5.

S/PV.7113: "The United Kingdom is also playing its own part in strengthening national rule-of-law systems in conflict- affected regions. This year, we will be the only Group of 20 countries to spend 0.7 percent of our gross national income on overseas aid, at least 30 percent of which will be spent in conflict-affected countries. We have committed $84 million per year to helping improve security and justice in 16 different countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. That will support a range of activities, including facilitating access to security and justice for 10 million women around the world."

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 2014.

Arms Transfer Revenue in 2013: $1,645,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2013: $19,900,000

(2014-2017): Get girls through primary and secondary school in conflict and post-conflict situations, including through the UK’s £355 million flagship programme, the Girls’ Education Challenge, which works in countries such as in Afghanistan to provide girls in hard to reach areas with a quality education and to improve learning outcomes;

The Europen Union (EU) has a greater geographical reach than the United Kingdom; operating in many countries where we do not have a physical presence. The EU’s support for gender equality is funded through a range of financing instruments including the Development Cooperation Instrument and European Development Fund, which together cover over 100 developing countries - a far greater geographical reach than any single Member State acting alone. Of the EU’s total development spend from 2014-2020 of over €50 billion, the United Kingdom contributes approximately 15 percent. The EU is active in increasing awareness, building capacity and providing training on human rights and gender issues through its crisis-management work under Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions. Most CSDP missions now deploy a Gender Adviser to raise the profile of Women, Peace and Security and integrate these issues into all policy. EU Policing Missions, such as those in Afghanistan and Palestine, aim to raise the number of female police officers and police units focusing on women and family issues. The United Kingdom is currently looking at ways to mainstream gender issues across all CSDP missions. Provision of increased gender awareness and training among CSDP staff is a key priority for the UK’s Summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict;

The United Kingdom pledged a further £21.6 million funding to ensure that this work delivered tangible outcomes for women and girls and also now ensures the risks to girls and women are assessed as part of every humanitarian response the UK government engages in.

 

HDI (Human Development Index):
The United Kingdom was ranked 14th.

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: 

MINUSMA (0),

MINUSTAH (0),

MONUSCO (0),

UNFICYP (21),

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: 20+;
- 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:
2014: 164,348.

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 2014:
- International Business Women's Conference;
- Sanitation Vulnerabilities: Women’s stresses and struggles for violence-free sanitation;
- Sexual Violence Summit.

The 2014 draught presents three principles and a four "outcomes" that match the main pillars of UNSCR 1325.

Principles:
Women’s participation is needed to make and build peace and prevent conflict breaking out;

Women and girls suffer specific forms of violence in conflict and emergencies;

In emergencies and conflict situations, women and girls have specific needs which need to be met.

Pillars:
Participation: Inclusion of women and girls' interests in decision-making processes related to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.

Protection: Women and girls' safety, physical and mental health and economic security are assured and their human rights upheld.

Prevention: Prevention of conflict and all forms of structural and physical violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence.

Relief and Recovery: Women’s and girls’ specific needs are met in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Action:
There are no activities in the draught 2014 draft NAP, but the UK commits itself to include them in the final draft by the end of 2014.

Timeframe:
UK's draught 2014 NAP is for the period 2014-2017, but does not provide specific timeframes for the outcomes it describes.

NAP Budget:
There is no estimated or allocated budget in the 2014 draught NAP. In fact, the UK NAP explains their decision to keep a budget out of the NAP in order to prevent a budget from confining them to implement women, peace and security to one area when they believe it should be integrated into every sector.

The UK NAP does mention its intent to allocate a budget for monitoring and evaluation.

Military Expenditure in 2013: $56,862,000,000
______
There is no estimated or allocated budget in the 2014 draft NAP.

In fact, the UK NAP explains their decision to keep a budget out of the NAP in order to prevent a budget from confining them to implement women, peace and security to one area when they believe it should be integrated into every sector.

The UK NAP does mention its intent to allocate a budget for monitoring and evaluation.

Lower:22.6%;

Upper:23.4%.

Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.16.

Senior-ranked female chief inspectors: 19.5%
Constable-ranked female officers: 30.1%

Female: 845;

Male: 2607.

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

Unemployment rate (percentage of female/male labour force):
Female: 7.3%;
Male: 8.4%.

Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 24,820;
Male: 40,000;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.62.

Legislators, senior officials, and managers (%):
Female: 34, Male: 66;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.52.

Professional and technical workers (%):
Female: 49, Male: 51;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.95.

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.

Enrolment in tertiary education
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.36.

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. Investigations and prosecutions of all forms of trafficking increased and public awareness increased. While the United Kingdom government continued to identify a large number of trafficking victims, some stakeholders continued to report that the victim identification and referral system failed to assist many victims of trafficking; some victims were detained and prosecuted for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked. The Unite Kingdom government and Westminster Parliament launched an overhaul of the United Kingdom anti-trafficking programme to ensure the effective prosecution of trafficking offenders and to create structures for self-critical evaluation; parliamentary inquiries further examined victim protection and transparency in supply chains.

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. 

The UK government published a further refreshed version of our action plan in March 2014, setting out cross-government progress on actions to reduce violence against women and girls since our last plan was published. Our new plan sets out our ambition to: protect victims through early intervention rolling out programmes such as Clare’s Law and domestic violence protection orders; support effective local approaches by giving local commissioners the information they need to tackle violence against women and girls; ensure that other programmes – such as tackling sexual violence against children and young people, gang related exploitation of girls and modern slavery support our approach to ending violence against girls and women.The United Kingdom has developed the “Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls” strategy, committing around GBP £40 million as stable funding for specialist services, piloted new ways of protecting victims of domestic violence, launched national prevention campaigns to tackle rape and relationship abuse, and is planning to criminalise forced marriage.

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 run by 178 NGOs with approximately 3,577 shelter places available;

300 support services across England for women survivors of violence and their children;

46 rape crisis centres.

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

36 shelters with approximately 227 shelter places available;

7 centres for women survivors of sexual violence.

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

13 women’s shelters with approximately 390 shelters available.

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

45 women’s shelters in Scotland with approximately 509;

13 rape crisis centres in Scotland.

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 UK government had a national referral mechanism (NRM), which used a two-step process for identifying victims: first, a preliminary finding of “reasonable grounds” that an individual is a trafficking victim, and second, a final determination of “positive grounds” for that conclusion, which triggers longer-term victim protection. The decision as to who is considered a victim is shared between the Home Office and the UK Human Trafficking Centre. Victims receiving a positive grounds decision enter a 45-day programme of rest and recovery with safe accommodation, with access to legal advice, health care, counseling, and educational opportunities.

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:153,560.

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.

Refugee women who are survivors of rape, sexual violence and other torture are often being held in immigration detention for long periods when they come to this country to seek asylum, and that this detention has a very negative impact on their mental health.

*** 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.