This Lords Library briefing provides information on fragile states and the effects of conflict, including information on widows.
Fragile States: Effects of Conflict (276KB PDF)
Ahead of the debate on 15 September 2016 on the effect of conflict in fragile states on the rate of human rights abuses and the number of widows, this Library briefing details some of the ways in which the fragility of states has been identified, and provides data on the impact of conflicts and the number of widow. It also provides information on the UK Government’s aid policy.
Identifying Fragile States
The term ‘fragile state’ is used in conflict prevention and international development to describe the degree to which countries are at risk of violent conflict and other forms of societal breakdown. There is no internationally agreed single benchmark by which states might be classified as fragile. Fragility is a relative term and the specific circumstance of each state will be different. This briefing summarises some of the inherent difficulties involved in collecting reliable information on areas where there is conflict and tight control of freedom of speech.
The Fund for Peace, the OECD and the World Bank quantify the comparative level of fragility in particular states. This data can be used to identify countries which are most affected by human rights abuse, large scale poverty and other factors contributing to the fragility of a state. Both the Fund for Peace and the OECD use this information to group states according to different metrics for fragility.
Human Rights Abuses in Fragile States
The Fund for Peace, the OECD and the World Bank quantify the comparative level of fragility in particular states. This data can be used to identify countries which are most affected by human rights abuse, large scale poverty and other factors contributing to the fragility of a state. Both the Fund for Peace and the OECD use this information to group states according to different metrics for fragility. This briefing includes analyses of the human rights situation in these fragile countries, including that provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in its 2015 Human Rights and Democracy report.
Quantitative data is provided for fragile states regarding the number of battle-related deaths and the number of widows. Although data from conflict zones is often incomplete, the World Bank has noted large increases in conflict-related deaths in some fragile states over the period 2010–14, including in Syria and Yemen. In the most fragile countries, a median average of 6.25 percent of the women at marriage age were identified as being widows. The Loomba Foundation notes that the data on widows in fragile states often provides an underestimate of the number of widows, so the proportion may in fact be significantly higher.
UK Government Policy
State fragility has been described by the UK Government as having an important impact on the ability of foreign countries and international organisations to provide development aid. This briefing also outlines Government policy regarding development aid targeted towards fragile states.
Fragile States: Effects of Conflict (276KB PDF)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
