Committee publication · Special Report · 10 June 2026 · HC 210
1st Special Report: Peace under pressure: Protecting Women, Peace and Security: Government Response
From: International Development Committee
Inquiry: Women, peace and security
Summary
This is the UK government's response to the International Development Committee's March 2026 report on Women, Peace and Security. The government partially accepts most recommendations, claiming unwavering commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda while defending its approach to UN Security Council presidency work, staff restructuring, and mainstreaming gender equality across foreign policy despite Official Development Assistance cuts.
Key findings
- Government 'partially agrees' it should strengthen WPS implementation multilaterally, citing concrete examples of defending WPS language in UN Security Council resolutions on Libya, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia and Colombia during 2025.
- Government 'disagrees' it failed to convene a dedicated WPS session during February 2026 UN Security Council presidency, arguing country-specific briefings by women were more impactful than generic WPS discussions.
- Government claims to have protected central funding for Violence Against Women and Girls, Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and WPS programmes at FY25/26 levels despite broader ODA cuts.
- Government committed £3.5m+ in FY25/26 to support women peacebuilders and women's rights organisations, with similar amount planned for FY26/27; ringfencing multi-year funding only 'partially' accepted.
- Government defends mainstreaming gender equality across entire FCDO portfolio as sustainable approach (targeting 90% bilateral ODA focus on women's equality by 2030) rather than standalone programmes, rejecting concerns this masks staff cuts.
Government position
The government accepts the committee's underlying premise that Women, Peace and Security is critical to UK foreign policy but partially or fully rejects several implementation recommendations. It defends its UN Security Council presidency approach as strategically sound; accepts the need for improved monitoring frameworks and cross-government coordination but resists ringfencing dedicated WPS budgets, arguing mainstreaming delivers better value. It commits to maintaining gender expertise through new 'Women and Equalities Community of Expertise' structures despite wider departmental restructuring. Overall stance: accepts commitment principle, partially accepts/rejects specific resource and structural demands.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sarah Champion, International Development Committee, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ministry of Defence (MOD), Yvette Cooper (Foreign Secretary), Hala Al-Karib, Pramila Patten, Elsie Initiative Fund
Notable line
“There cannot be peace, security or prosperity without women playing their part, free from violence and free from fear.”
Key Quotes
“The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to advancing the WPS agenda, including through implementation of our fifth WPS National Action Plan”
“We specifically and safely invited women to brief the Security Council's meetings on Syria, Sudan and the Middle East Peace Process, as one of the most credible, meaningful and impactful ways to anchor WPS in UN Security Council discussions and action.”
“Protection, participation and prevention go hand in hand.”
“We will embed women and girls' rights across all our foreign policy. Through mainstreaming, we will shift from a reliance on a small number of standalone programmes to ensuring that women and girls are systematically considered across the entire portfolio.”
“We recognise the important role our technical advisers and experienced staff play in the WPS agenda. As we work through our new priorities, we will make decisions about how best to utilise our technical expertise and experience ad ensure that we have the right skills, in the right places, at the right time.”
“Following the General Election in July 2024 and a review of the commitments in the WPS NAP, the decision was taken that the WPS NAP's year one baseline study should remain an internal document, given it pertains to former government policies.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗