APPG on Women, Peace and Security: Human Security in Defence: Policy and Practise
On Thursday 28th November, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women, Peace and Security (APPG-WPS) hosted the event: Human Security in Defence: Policy and Practise.
The event welcomed the following speakers: Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces; Joanna Crouch, Policy Lead, Human Security in Defence, Ministry of Defence; Dr Lucy McDermott, Policy Advisor, Human Security in Defence, Ministry of Defence; and Lt Col. N Twumasi-Ankrah, MVO, RHG/D, Commanding Officer, Outreach Group.
The discussion, facilitated by Baroness Hodgson, co-chair of the APPG-WPS, considered the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as a cross-cutting theme within the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Human Security policy advancement. With the refreshed Human Security in Defence policy published in July 2024, this event invited stakeholders to learn more about its application in consideration of WPS.
Luke Pollard began the event by confirming that the MoD has a firm commitment to this policy area, as the world sees more threats and uncertainty this area may be seen as deprioritised, but the new Government is committed to its advancement. The Minister for Armed Forces established the moral and legal obligation of the UK Government to advance WPS and ensure a joined-up approach between military and diplomatic agendas. With a global context in which the rules-based order is being undermined, the Minister urged that the protection and respect of civilians is imperative. Advancing WPS is important during times of conflict, but these policies are only as good as their implementation.
Joanna Crouch spoke about the broader policy development and how the MoD is driving this forward. She provided a detailed look into the future global context in which this policy framework is being implemented, with a landscape of greater forced migration; further urbanisation; small arms proliferation; increased climate change and the expansion of disinformation. There are three vantage points for the integration of human security into the MoD’s work: moral, legal and strategic. Joanne Crouch explained that this is a 12-year change programme, and during this critical time the MoD will establish how Human Security related and informs military objectives, ensuring that gender and the protection of civilians is integrated into the MoD’s analysis.
Dr Lucy McDermott, as a co-author of the National Action Plan on WPS with the FCDO, addressed the specific commitments of the MoD with regards to governance and accountability. The MoD has been looking at two key strains 1) women in defence and 2) mainstreaming gender in how defence operates. To point 1, McDermott spoke to the advancement women’s leadership and ensuring an enabling environment for women’s participation, such as the practical elements of childcare and formal policies to ensure protection and accountability in the case of sexual exploitation and abuse. To point 2, the MoD has been mainstreaming a gender perspective, looking to build its capability and strengthening evidence, including utilising the WPS Helpdesk for research. McDermott concluded by emphasising that WPS is a championed as a standalone agenda, as well as integrated into a Human Security approach.
Lt Col. N Twumasi-Ankrah was the final event speaker and addressed the practical ways that Human Security has been advanced by the MoD. This occurs through three key streams: enabling, by leveraging networks and partners; training, such as through pre-deployment courses; and operating. Lt. Col.Twumasi-Ankrah provided some specific examples, including the UK helping to establish a Centre of Excellence on Human Security in Bosnia. A planning team from Outreach sits in HQ which ensures a human security security eye on all levels of the operation.
After the floor was opened to event attendees for questions. Baroness Hodgson thanked the speakers, the MOD who helped organise the event and all who attended.
*For further information, please email appg-wps@gaps-uk.org.*