Achieving gender equality requires urgent action as over 600 million women and girls live near armed conflict, according to the United Nations.
The UN Women says women’s organisations play a crucial role in crisis response, offering essential support in conflict-affected areas.
The escalating levels of armed violence and conflict are reversing decades of progress in gender equality.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that generational gains in women’s rights are now at risk, as power and decision-making in peace and security matters remain overwhelmingly dominated by men. He stressed that without addressing systemic gender biases and patriarchal structures, achieving lasting peace would remain impossible.
The impact on women in conflict zones is severe. The proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023, while U.N.-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50%.
Additionally, the number of girls affected by grave violations in conflict zones rose by 35%. Many women in Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen fear that their struggles have been forgotten as global crises intensify.
Food insecurity and maternal mortality remain major concerns. In conflict-affected regions, one in two women face moderate to severe food insecurity, and 61% of global maternal deaths occur in 35 war-torn countries.
Meanwhile, women’s participation in peace negotiations remains critically low, with their involvement in U.N.-supported processes averaging under 20% over the past decade.
To address this, the U.N. has launched a “Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes,” urging governments and mediators to prioritise women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
However, many U.N. ambassadors acknowledge that political will remains a major barrier to real progress in achieving gender equality in conflict resolution.
