A coalition of 17 humanitarian, campaigning, and women’s rights organisations are calling on the UK to use its Presidency of the UN Security Council – which begins today – to protect progress on gender equality and ensure women and girls from conflict zones have a say in decisions that affect them.
The organisations, which include GAPS, CARE International UK and Oxfam GB, said the presidency represents "one of the first real tests" of the government's commitment to put women and girls at the heart of diplomacy after it announced further cuts to the aid budget last year.
In a public statement, the groups urged the UK to treat gender justice as "fundamental, not optional" to international peace and security at a time of growing global backlash against women's rights. Earlier this year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that rolling back gender equality undermines the effectiveness and legitimacy of UN action, particularly for women and girls living in conflict.
"This Presidency represents a critical opportunity for the UK to show that, when it comes to gender equality, its words are backed by action," the statement said.
The call comes as tens of thousands of women and girls continue to suffer the consequences of conflicts from Gaza to Sudan. The UN says the past decade has seen the number of women and girls directly exposed to conflict increase by over 50%. As the UN Penholder on Women, Peace and Security, the UK has a particular responsibility to drive action on gender equality at the Security Council.
The organisations want the UK to ensure its “words are backed by action” and embed gender analysis across all Security Council business, amplify the voices of women from conflict-affected countries in Council discussions and briefings, and take a clear public stand against reprisals targeting civil society.
The UK's month-long presidency begins today.
Media enquiries
For all media enquiries please contact Zaina Alibhai
Notes to editors
GAPS (Gender Action for Peace and Security) is the UK's Women, Peace and Security civil society network. It is a membership organisation made up of 17 multi-mandate international NGOs.
Full remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres
PROTECT PROGRESS x GAPS: Full Public Statement on UK’s UNSC Presidency
When the UK government announced further cuts to the aid budget, it did so with the promise that it would use its’ “convening power and diplomacy to put women and girls at the heart of everything we do”. As the UK takes on the Presidency of the UN Security Council in February, it faces one of the first real tests of that commitment.
We call on the UK to use its Presidency to protect progress on gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, centre the voices of women and girls from conflict-affected countries, and ensure that those most affected by conflict are able to shape the Council’s decisions.
At a time of growing global backlash against gender equality, we urge the UK to treat gender justice as fundamental, not optional, to international peace and security. The UK can demonstrate this by embedding robust gender analysis across all Security Council business, amplifying the voices of women and girls from conflict-afflicted contexts in Council discussions and briefings, and taking a clear, public, stand against reprisals targeting civil society.
This Presidency represents a critical opportunity for the UK to show that, when it comes to gender equality, its words are backed by action.
- ActionAid UK
- CARE International UK
- Conciliation Resources
- Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
- International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
- MSI Reproductive Choices
- ONE Campaign
- Oxfam GB
- Peace Direct
- Plan International UK
- Restless Development
- SAFERWORLD
- The Circle
- Women for Women International-UK
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK (WILPF UK)
- Women’s Platform
- Womankind Worldwide
