The Women, Peace & Security (WPS) Agenda and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Summary
Updated 26 August 2022
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1. Overview
Women and men have different experiences of conflict, conflict resolution and reconstruction. Peace and security mechanisms must understand and address the security needs of all people. Furthermore, mediation efforts, conflict prevention and resolution more broadly are more successful when they are inclusive. Peace agreements set the blueprint for the future of an entire society. If women, minorities and marginalised groups are not represented at the table, their futures risk being ‘on’ the table, and negotiated away. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda responds to the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls and champions their meaningful participation in peace efforts.
The scale of sexual violence in conflict is appalling. The UK is stepping up its ambition. The Foreign Secretary has made sexual violence in conflict one of her top priorities. Through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) we will work with international partners to support survivors, hold perpetrators to account and put an end to these heinous acts for good.
2. Objectives of IPF funding on supporting the Women, Peace & Security Agenda and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative
The UK aims to achieve the following with the WPS and PSVI agendas:
- champion women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes and mediation
- supporting the protection of women peacebuilders and mediators
- strengthen the global response to conflict-related sexual violence, including by exploring a new international Convention to end sexual violence in conflict
- strengthen pathways to quality justice for all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and hold perpetrators to account
- enhance support available to survivors and children born of sexual violence in conflict, including tackling the stigma they face within their communities
3. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and supporting the WPS and PSVI Agendas
This programme strand is exclusively ODA funding and supports civil society organisations in fragile and conflict affected countries. UK-funding supports civil society organisational projects across conflict-affected and post-conflict settings, such as the DRC, South Sudan and Colombia, as well as UK-led initiatives.
4. Supporting the WPS and PSVI Agendas
In 2020 to 2021, the programme supported projects globally across the range of themes. The FCDO publishes an annual report to Parliament on the progress made against the objectives of the UK’s National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS (2018 to 2022).
5. Funding for PSVI and WPS FY 2021 to 2022
The ODA allocation for 2021 to 2022 for the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) was £4.2 million.
WPS Projects were funded through the PSVI allocation and came to a total of £311,350.88.