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Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL]: HL Bill 20 of 2024–25

The Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative). The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 November 2024. 

The bill would require the secretary of state to have regard to the UK’s national action plan on women, peace and security (NAP) when formulating and implementing policy on foreign affairs, defence or related matters. A NAP is an action plan that has been adopted to meet commitments under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325. The resolution concerns the participation of women in peace and security efforts. Since the resolution’s adoption in 2000, the security council has encouraged member states to develop NAPs on women, peace and security (WPS). As of May 2024, 109 countries have adopted such NAPs. The UK is currently on its fifth NAP, which was launched by the Conservative government in 2023 and spans 2023 to 2027. 

The bill would also require the government to report annually to Parliament on the progress made in relation to the NAP. In addition, the bill details considerations the secretary of state must have regard to, particularly where the UK is participating in a multi-national organisation, such as the United Nations. 

The bill would extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would come into force on the day the legislation was passed.

Baroness Hodgson introduced a very similar bill in the 2022–23 session. No amendments were tabled to that bill and it completed its passage through the House of Lords. It did not proceed to second reading in the House of Commons before the House was prorogued on 26 October 2023.