The Women’s Spaces 10 policy recommendations on the UK’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security

Published: June 13, 2025

On 2nd June 2025, the Women’s Spaces team led by the Urban Coordinator, submitted a response to the International Development Committee’s Call for Evidence on Women, Peace and Security. The submission includes 10 policy recommendations.

The UK’s 2023–2027 National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) outlines important strategic ambitions, but currently falls short of delivering substantive, measurable outcomes—especially for women and girls from conflict-affected and marginalised communities. Funding reductions, weak monitoring mechanisms, and limited domestic implementation, particularly in Northern Ireland, undermine the UK’s credibility and effectiveness in advancing the WPS agenda.

This submission offers a response to the Committee’s inquiry questions, grounded in policy analysis and lived experience evidence, and includes 10 key recommendations to strengthen the UK’s WPS commitments, particularly in line with local implementation of WPS.

As part of this submission, Women’s Spaces consulted with the Women’s Regional Consortium NI and the Law Centre NI over their research findings. Finally, the Women’s Spaces Consortium fully supports the Women’s Policy Group NI’s response to the call for evidence.

Summary Recommendations

  1. Strengthen implementation, monitoring, and accountability frameworks
  2. Increase sustainable funding for local women’s groups
  3. Ensure transparency in WPS investment and resource allocation
  4. Adopt an intersectional approach
  5. Prioritise full implementation in Northern Ireland
  6. Broaden definitions of security and armed conflict
  7. Embed co-design and public participation models
  8. Promote whole-of-government action including in justice and education sectors
  9. Enhance international collaboration and networking
  10. Address online and digital violence against women

To read the full report, visit: https://womens-spaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WPS-Call-for-Evidence-by-Womens-Spaces-Consortium-June-2025-final.pdf

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