UK Praises Iraq’s Plan to Protect Women in Peace and Security
On June 10, 2025, the United Kingdom publicly commended Iraq for publishing its National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This announcement, made through a UK statement at the United Nations Security Council, highlights the importance of protecting women and ensuring their participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts.
What is the Women, Peace and Security Agenda?
The WPS agenda is a set of international frameworks designed to address the specific experiences and needs of women and girls in conflict-affected situations. It recognizes that women are disproportionately affected by conflict, often facing sexual violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. The WPS agenda also acknowledges the crucial role women play in preventing conflict, building peace, and ensuring sustainable development.
Key pillars of the WPS agenda include:
- Participation: Ensuring women’s meaningful participation in all aspects of peace processes, from negotiations to reconstruction efforts.
- Protection: Protecting women and girls from gender-based violence in conflict settings.
- Prevention: Addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting gender equality to prevent future conflicts.
- Relief and Recovery: Meeting the specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian response and post-conflict recovery.
What is a National Action Plan (NAP)?
A NAP is a country-specific strategy for implementing the WPS agenda. It outlines concrete actions and targets for addressing the needs of women and girls in conflict and promoting their participation in peacebuilding. The development of a NAP signifies a country’s commitment to the principles of WPS and provides a framework for government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners to work together.
Why is the UK commending Iraq’s NAP?
The UK’s commendation of Iraq’s NAP is significant for several reasons:
- Shows Support: It demonstrates the UK’s support for Iraq’s efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in conflict resolution.
- Encourages Implementation: It can encourage the Iraqi government to fully implement the NAP and hold itself accountable for achieving its targets.
- Sets a Positive Example: It can serve as a positive example for other countries in the region and beyond, encouraging them to develop their own NAPs.
- Reinforces International Norms: It reinforces the importance of the WPS agenda as a core component of international peace and security efforts.
What might be included in Iraq’s NAP?
While the specifics of Iraq’s NAP were not detailed in the announcement, we can expect it to include measures related to:
- Increasing Women’s Representation: Strategies to increase the number of women in government, security forces, and peace negotiations.
- Combating Gender-Based Violence: Programs to prevent and respond to sexual violence, domestic violence, and other forms of gender-based violence.
- Providing Economic Opportunities: Initiatives to empower women economically through access to education, training, and employment.
- Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Reforms to laws and policies to ensure that women’s rights are protected and enforced.
- Raising Awareness: Public awareness campaigns to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote women’s participation in peacebuilding.
Why is this important?
The publication of Iraq’s NAP on WPS is a crucial step forward in promoting gender equality and ensuring that women are at the forefront of peacebuilding efforts. By supporting Iraq’s efforts, the UK is contributing to a more peaceful and stable future for the country and the region.
In Conclusion:
The UK’s commendation of Iraq’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security is a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of gender equality in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. By prioritizing the needs of women and ensuring their participation in peace processes, Iraq is taking a significant step towards building a more just and sustainable future. The UK’s support highlights the importance of international cooperation in advancing the WPS agenda and promoting lasting peace around the world.
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The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-06-10 15:27, ‘The UK commends the publication of Iraq’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security: UK statement at the UN Security Council’ was published according to GOV UK. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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