Detmer Kremer- Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator (GAPS)The Shaping Feminist Foreign Policy Conference hosted by the Dutch Government in November 2023 was marked by its sleek branding: banners, free water bottles, brochures, an app, TV screens, t-shirts, cut-outs for Instagram backdrops, lanyards and more all featured images of carefully selected diverse figures indicating a wide range of gender identities, ethnic backgrounds and abilities. It was also marked by pro-Palestine attendees demanding the then-Dutch Foreign Minister support a ceasefire, which amid this cascade of colourful branding proclaiming inclusion and solidarity, she was unable to do.

Following the Foreign Secretary Rt Hon David Lammy MP’s response to a parliamentary question on 28th October 2024, GAPS and 37 concerned organisations are deeply troubled by these comments and call on the Foreign Secretary to reaffirm the Government’s commitment…

The Security Council held its annual debate on women, peace and security in New York this month, titled:  “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment”. UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, spoke to the contexts of Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan and Yemen, emphasising that we must 'reinforce our resolve to support women advocating for their rights, agency and inclusion at every opportunity'.

"Dismantling UNRWA would be catastrophic for Palestinians especially in Gaza and the West Bank as they are deprived of essentials such as food, water, medical aid, education and protection. It will also have catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinian refugees…

Women’s participation in peacebuilding is a crucial step in furthering gender equality, achieving women’s rights and reflecting the needs and perspectives of women directly impacted by the conflict- which are often ignored. But how can we ensure the participation, protection…

Sangeetha Navaratnam-Blair- Policy, Advocacy and Communications Manager (GAPS) In 2024, around 1.5 billion people in over 60 countries will be voting in significant elections. Much of the world’s population will be looking on cautiously at the US election – an…

"Today, a year on, our thoughts are with the family of all those killed, the hostages, the detainees, and those forcibly displaced." Read our GAPS secretariat statement on October 7th here.

Israel strikes on Southern Lebanon The Lebanese health minister reported 569 people have been killed and 1,835 wounded since last Monday in Israeli strikes across Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed the death of its senior…

What is the anti-gender movement?

The UK has traditionally been a champion for gender equality in multilateral spaces. However, as the anti-gender movement spreads moral panic and influences policy, media and elections, the new UK government must reorient its actions to successfully strengthen multilateral consensus on human rights protections for women and LGBTI+ people.

The UK has traditionally been a champion for gender equality in multilateral spaces. However, as the anti-gender movement spreads moral panic and influences policy, media and elections, the new UK government must reorient its actions to successfully strengthen multilateral consensus on human rights protections for women and LGBTI+ people.

19 August marked International Humanitarian Day:

Civil society demonstrated their support for the day, including aid workers in Gaza who paused for a moment of silence, in solidarity with fellow humanitarians and to honour the 289 colleagues killed since October 2023. GAPS joined the calls to #ActforHumanity to ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in conflict zones & ensure accountability for violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. Read the full thread here. 

"The recent racist and Islamophobic riots in multiple cities across the UK, fuelled by far-right and fascist movements, are deeply distressing and should raise serious concerns for the UK Government. As a network committed to anti-racism, it is crucial that…

The UK Government has been elected and new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed his new cabinet with David Lammy as Foreign Secretary and Anneliese Dodds as a Minister in the FCDO as well as a Minister for Women and Equalities in the Department of Education.

The new Government has a mandate and opportunity to make the UK and the wider world more fair and secure. The UK's effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is an essential framework to achieve this.

With the release of the party manifestos over the past weeks and upcoming UK General Election, this month has been filled with anticipation and opportunity. As a penholder for UNSCR 1325, the incoming Government holds the responsibility to re-commit, reform and propel the WPS agenda forward, to enact the meaningful change that has, so far, been underwhelming. 

As May marks eight months of heightened bombardment and dehumanisation against the Palestinian people, we are sharing yet another newsletter with our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and end to the brutal occupation in Palestine. Alongside many colleagues in civil society and activist spaces, GAPS has been urging the UK Government to take account of their actions which feed and legitimise the violence facing Gaza.

Read our GAPS secretariat statement on the arrest warrants sought by ICC Chief Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan, here.

This month, the UK Government passed the callous Rwanda Safety (Asylum and Immigration) Bill- a clear abuse of the rule of law. This Bill directly undermines the UK’s commitments to Women, Peace and Security…

On 23 April, 2024 the UK Government passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill. Please see here the GAPS Secretariat statement on Safety of Rwanda bill.

On 10 March 2024,  the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) followed-up on their review, UK aid to refugees in the UK, which was published in March 2023. Please find our full statement here: Statement on ICAI follow-up: UK aid to refugees in the UK

March 2024 marks one year of implementation for the National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security. To recognise this, GAPS has developed an assessment of UK Government progress on WPS in 2023. This report, informed by four case studies co-created by women’s rights organisations (WROs), women human rights activists and GAPS member organisations, considers the progress and learnings for the UK Government to take forward into the proceeding years of NAP implementation.