Women, Peace, and Security: UK Address at the OSCE

I extend my gratitude to the Secretary General and the panellists for their contributions. I also want to thank North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina for bringing this important issue to light on International Women’s Day – a strong indication of OSCE’s commitment to this crucial work.

Chairs, as the Ukrainian representative so eloquently articulated, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the ongoing relevance of today’s discussion. Women are frequently the first responders during conflicts. We honor the countless women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces to protect their nation. Beyond their roles in the military, Ukrainian women have also been vital to the humanitarian, political, and security initiatives defending their country.

This includes gathering evidence to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable. The world has witnessed, with dismay, the substantial evidence of terrible atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces against civilians, many of whom are women. That’s why, in January, the UK joined the core group focused on ensuring accountability for Russia’s actions against Ukraine. Furthermore, the UK and the Netherlands will co-host justice ministers globally to offer practical support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation of the situation in Ukraine. We will prioritize the needs of survivors in our accountability initiatives by advocating for adherence to the Murad Code when collecting information and evidence from those affected by conflict-related sexual violence.

Chairs, last month, our Foreign Secretary and our Minister for the Armed Forces unveiled the UK’s fifth Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan. This Plan outlines a bold strategy to address gender inequality in fragile and conflict-affected nations. It specifies how we will continue to support women and girls through the UK’s diplomatic, development, and defence activities, in partnership with our global allies.

I want to emphasize two key aspects today:

Firstly, regarding Ukraine. Given Russia’s full-scale invasion and alarming reports of conflict-related sexual violence, Ukraine is now a focal point in our National Action Plan. We will collaborate with Ukraine to advocate for women’s leadership in peace initiatives and to ensure that survivors of CRSV receive the necessary support they deserve.

Secondly, the UK is dedicated to enhancing our own performance on WPS – encompassing our diplomatic, development, security, and defence sectors. In our National Action Plan, we have pledged to boost women’s meaningful engagement and leadership within UK defence, foreign, and security policies. This includes targeting a 30% representation of women in the British armed forces by 2030 and aiming for gender parity among our senior male and female negotiators.

Chairs, the UK continues to regard the OSCE’s annual voluntary report on Women, Peace and Security under the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security as a vital means of sharing knowledge and best practices. As our discussions have consistently shown, this is an area where mutual learning is essential. We strongly urge all States to participate in this dialogue.

In conclusion, I want to reiterate the significance of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Experience teaches us that the full, equal, and meaningful involvement of women in peace efforts yields better results during and after conflicts. This is a principle we must always uphold. On this International Women’s Day, the UK proudly asserts that our commitment to supporting women and girls, including those in Ukraine, remains steadfast.