A Bill to support women in UK-sponsored and supported conflict prevention, peace processes, mediation and diplomatic delegations; to ensure systematic gender consideration and responsiveness in UK foreign and defence policy; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
26 February 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The bill would require the UK government to mainstream gender considerations across foreign policy, defence and related work, and to promote women’s rights and participation in peace processes and delegations. It would mandate annual reporting on progress of the national action plan on women, peace and security and extend survivor‑centred support and training, with duties applying across the four nations and in international organisations the UK joins.
Originating in the Lords, the bill progressed through Lords stages and a Select Committee report in 2024. In December 2024 the Commons published its version with expanded measures. As of 17 April 2026, the Bill is with the Commons for its 2nd reading after moving from Lords to the lower house.
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Bill to be read a second time on Friday 17 April 2026, although the House of Commons is not expected to be sitting on that date.
The Bill completed its House of Lords stages on Friday 17 April 2024 and was presented to the House of Commons on Tuesday 17 December 2024. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
The Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] would require the UK Government to have regard to the national action plan on women, peace and security and to lay an annual report on progress (including the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative). It would enshrine gender considerations across foreign, defence and related policy, require the inclusion of women in policy-making and peace processes, and mandate survivor‑centred support, justice for survivors of sexual violence, pre‑deployment training, and funding for local women’s peacebuilding organisations. It also obliges the UK, in multinational organisations, to seek collective action on these matters, and it applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, coming into force on enactment.
The Committee reviews several Bills and flags two main issues. It questions a broad repeal power in the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill over sections 30A/30B, noting it would operate by regulations under negative procedure and asking for time-limiting/affirmative scrutiny. It also condemns skeleton-style powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (and related metrology provisions), arguing that most policy would be set in regulations with insufficient justification or parliamentary oversight, and recommends removing those powers or ensuring stronger justification and safeguards. The report also notes that other listed Bills have no delegations to highlight.
The bill would require the UK government to mainstream gender considerations across foreign policy, defence and related work, and to promote women’s rights and participation—especially in peace processes and in delegations—while supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. It mandates annual reporting on progress of the national action plan (the NAP), including reference to the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and requires international organisations the UK participates in to take these matters into account. The Act would apply to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, take effect on the day it is passed, and be cited as the Women, Peace and Security Act 2024.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
