Country / Region profile of: United Kingdom

Women's organisations have been lobbying for years to have the UK recognise the applicability of UNSCR 1325 in Northern Ireland because of the conflict that took place. While women in the UK receive equal treatment under the law, they remain underrepresented in top positions in politics and business. The UK is ranked 15 out of 144 countries listed on the Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) of 2017. The UK ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1986. In 2017, $47.1 billion was spent by the UK on its military. Women enjoy the same legal status and rights as men under family law, labor law, property law, and inheritance law. Women in the UK also have a long history of active advocacy regarding Women, Peace and Security issues such as disarmament, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. There is a WILPF UK branch, where members lobby and challenge government, explore root causes of conflict and mobilise women in preventing war and building peace. Women in the UK face challenges including the lack of women in key leadership positions and in decision making. The UK has also passed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security from 2018-2022. 

"Women need to be the architects of peace." - Madeleine Rees

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

$ 4,719,300,000
Military expenditure
The UK and northern Ireland spends USD$47,193,000,000 on the military, including armed forces and peacekeeping forces, defence ministries, paramilitary forces, and military space activities.
Funding development assistance
This amount could greatly inrease gender-responsive funding to the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
NAP 1325
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Ireland NAP does not include an allocated or estimated budget and there are no other financial resource consideration references within the NAP.
WPS commitments
The UK has launched its fourth National Action Plan and launched a new global network of military gender champions; however, it has not stated any financial commitments for disarmament.
  • PeaceWomen Spotlight

    Security Council and United Nations Action

    The United Kingdom is part of the permanent five members of the Security Council. The UK often addresses issues of Women, Peace and Security in debates at the Security Council, and you can read them here.

  • PeaceWomen Spotlight

    National Action Plan

  • PeaceWomen Spotlight

    WILPF Action

    WILPF UK is dedicated to creating a world free from violence and armed conflict in which human rights are protected and women and men are equally empowered and involved in positions of leadership at the local, national and international levels. They work to actively promote total and universal diarmament, gender, peace and security and women's human rights. Read more on the work of WILPF UK here