The Peace and Security Liaison Group (PSLG) is concluding a three-year programme of roundtable meetings with the publication of Securing peace: preventing conflict and building peace the UKs role in a changing world. This report and policy summary, derived from eight roundtables held between 2007and 2009, examines various aspects of UK peace and security policy from both Whitehall and civil society perspectives … (Homepage 1/2).
PSLG report 2009: summary, 8 pages; full report, 30 pdf pages; Members (Membergroups);
Contact online.
Homepage 2/2: … These meetings brought together government officials, academics, think tanks and NGOs to discuss current policy relating to conflict issues, non-proliferation and disarmament. Members of PSLG plan to convene wrap-up meetings early in 2010 to consider some of the conclusions outlined in the report.
The report addresses some difficult but vital issues that will continue to challenge governments in future, whatever their policy agenda. With an increasingly tight economic climate, how can national and international security best be achieved? What is the added value of investment in preventing conflict and building peace, particularly in relation to defence expenditure? How does climate change impact on security policy? Challenges are identified for policymakers and practitioners alike. Highly complex situations require extended attention, in-depth engagement and consistent investment of economic and human resources. How can we build understanding of the nature of apparently intractable conflicts? How should we deal with the pressure to deliver short term results rather than invest in long term solutions?
- To view the PDF of Securing Peace, 8 pdf pages – the policy summary click here;
- To view the PDF of Securing Peace, 30 pdf pages – the full report click here.
PSLG was founded in 2004 to provide a network in which peace and security NGOs could jointly engage with government and seek to influence the direction of UK policy on these key issues. Its aim has been to explore and develop holistic approaches to peace and security issues around the world.
The organisations making up PSLG bring together considerable knowledge, experience and expertise. All are part of the peace and security segment of UK civil society, and their fields of interest and expertise span conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace building, arms control, and disarmament, international security and governance. Their remits are broad and include advocacy, training, research and campaigning.
Since 2004, PSLG has played an important part in developing dialogue with government across departments, including the Cabinet Office, DfID, the FCO, the Ministry of Defence, and cross-departmental units such as the Conflict Prevention Pool and the Stabilisation Unit. It has engaged with a wide range of officials, including senior civil servants, in both formal and informal discussions on conflict issues, disarmament and international peace building. The group has offered both constructive ideas and challenges, and has held government to account for its policies and the way they have been put into practice.
External pressures, in particular the unfavourable funding environment for independent NGO networks, mean that the group will not be able to continue to work in its current form beyond January 2010.
PSLG leaves a legacy of closer relationships between NGOs and government, and we wish to thank all those who have supported the group financially and all those individuals and organisations who have helped to bring its work to fruition.
The work will continue in other forms and will be taken forward by members of the group and other like-minded NGOs. They will continue to work, both individually and together, to influence policy on the broad range of peace and security issues in what continues to be a challenging field. Engaging the government on peace and security issues remains a critical issue and the need for a consistent and coherent approach remains as great as ever.
The contents of this website are not open to the public. Non-members can find out more about the organisations that have been members of PSLG by clicking on PSLG members.