As the world continues to face conflicts, the need for women’s involvement in peace-building efforts has never been more pressing.
The latest report from the United Nations highlights a troubling trend, despite international commitments, progress regarding women’s roles in peace and security remains stagnant.
In 2023 alone, the UN recorded 33,443 civilian deaths in armed conflicts, with women accounting for four out of every ten fatalities, a troubling increase, double the previous year’s numbers.
Most of these cases were reported in areas of intense conflict, particularly Gaza (Palestine), as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria.
The consequences for women are severe and multi-faceted, spanning from direct violence and death to indirect, life-altering hardships such as sexual violence, restricted healthcare access, and food insecurity.
Sexual Violence in Conflict
Conflict-related sexual violence is a pervasive crisis, with UN-verified cases spiking by 50% over the past year.
Not only are women disproportionately targeted, but girls are also increasingly falling victim, with reports of grave violations against them up by 35%.
In the DRC alone, over 123,000 instances of gender-based violence were documented in 2023, a staggering 300% increase over the last three years.
Displaced women in areas like Goma, for instance, are often forced into survival sex, with the UN identifying more than 1,000 brothels in the region where this takes place.
The troubling rise in conflict-related sexual violence isn’t isolated to Africa. In Haiti, for example, humanitarian organisation Médecins sans Frontières reported a 43% rise in survivors seeking help, with over 3,700 cases of sexual and intimate partner violence documented in 2023.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed expressed deep concern over the scale and nature of sexual violence in conflict calling it a “heinous crime,”.
She emphasised the need for a dual approach, holding perpetrators accountable while innovating to prevent such atrocities in the first place.
“We must identify innovative and creative strategies, not only to respond to conflict-related sexual violence but to prevent it,” she said, urging the global community to consign such violations “to the annals of history once and for all.”
Limited Media Focus
Despite the staggering impacts of conflict on women, their stories are often relegated to the margins.
A recent analysis showed that although media coverage of the conflict has increased sixfold over the past decade, only 5% of that coverage focused on women’s experiences, and a mere 0.04% acknowledged women’s contributions as leaders in peace processes.
This lack of visibility perpetuates the cycle of gendered violence and discrimination, limiting public awareness and support for addressing these injustices.
Women affected by intersecting forms of discrimination, such as those based on ethnicity, class, or socioeconomic status, face even greater challenges.
This calls for a more nuanced understanding of women’s experiences in war, stating the need for inclusive solutions that account for diverse identities and vulnerabilities.
Restricted Healthcare Access
The report highlights an alarming trend: women in conflict zones are increasingly deprived of essential healthcare services, further exacerbating their vulnerability.
Approximately 61% of preventable maternal mortality occurs in 35 crisis-affected countries, amounting to 500 deaths every day.
In Sudan, where maternal mortality was already among the highest in the world before the conflict erupted in April 2023, an estimated 2.64 million women and girls of reproductive age urgently require assistance.
Tragically, over 260,000 of these are pregnant women with limited access to necessary healthcare.
In regions such as Tigray, Ethiopia, conflict and limited healthcare access have created harrowing conditions.
Between November 2020 and June 2023, more than 10,000 survivors of sexual violence sought healthcare at specialised centers. Yet, for many victims, receiving timely post-violence medical interventions remains a distant hope.
Basic treatments, such as post-exposure prophylaxis or emergency contraception, are often unavailable within the critical first 72 hours.
In Yemen, access to reproductive health services has plummeted by over 20% in the past year alone, impacting women’s health in far-reaching ways.
A Crisis of Food Insecurity
Conflict doesn’t just destabilise communities; it devastates food security, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.
Globally, one in four women and girls experience moderate to severe food insecurity, with conflict-affected areas facing double that rate.
In Sudan, for instance, the warring parties have deliberately obstructed food aid and the UN estimates that over 5,500 pregnant women and 7,000 new mothers are at risk of starvation in the coming months.
In Gaza, nine out of ten women report that accessing food has become increasingly difficult.
A majority of women say they now eat half or less of what they did before the conflict, with many mothers skipping meals entirely to ensure their children are fed.
The Funding Gaps
While global military spending reached a record $2.44 trillion in 2023, funding to support women’s rights organisations and initiatives that focus on women’s needs remains woefully inadequate.
Only 0.3% of total aid annually is allocated to organisations advancing gender equality, and investments in gender-based violence prevention and response account for less than 1% of all humanitarian funding.
This chronic underfunding limits the capacity of organisations that work to support women in conflict zones, leaving crucial programs under-resourced and many needs unmet.
Comprehensive, well-funded initiatives are urgently required to help women rebuild their lives and actively participate in peace processes.
Uganda and Kenya
Uganda and Kenya offer a microcosm of both the challenges and opportunities for women’s involvement in peace-building.
Uganda’s history, marked by conflicts such as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, has deeply affected the roles women play in their communities. Yet, despite their contributions, they are often excluded from formal peace negotiations.
While Uganda’s national action plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325 aims to boost women’s roles in peace processes, its implementation has been slow, with limited real impact.
Kenya, grappling with political unrest and ethnic divisions, underscores the need for women’s inclusion in governance and peace dialogues.
Community-driven initiatives that involve women in conflict resolution have shown promise in both countries, but these efforts need greater support and resources to scale up.
Education, Financial Empowerment
Education remains a vital tool for unlocking women’s potential as agents of peace. Vocational training programs in Uganda have empowered women economically, strengthening their influence in community decision-making.
Yet, without sufficient financial backing, these programs face limitations. Both Uganda and Kenya allocate only a fraction of their budgets to support women-led peace initiatives, a gap that NGOs, governments, and international donors must bridge to foster sustainable change.
Harnessing Tradition for Peace
In both Uganda and Kenya, cultural norms often limit women’s roles in formal peace processes. Yet, these same traditions can be instrumental in driving change.
Working with traditional leaders and showcasing women’s conflict resolution successes, makes advocacy campaigns more relevant in inspiring a cultural shift that sees women as key peace-builders rather than passive victims.
Moving Forward: Practical Steps to Elevate Women’s Roles in Peace and Security
Ensure existing frameworks like Uganda’s national action plan are actively implemented, with clear benchmarks and accountability mechanisms.
Global and local stakeholders must prioritise funding for women’s initiatives, closing the financial gap that hinders meaningful progress.
Integrate gender considerations into national security frameworks, increasing women’s representation in security forces to address gender-based violence more effectively.
Media and community programs should raise awareness about the critical roles women play in peacebuilding, challenging entrenched biases and inspiring community-wide support.
Establish robust systems to assess the impact of policies supporting women in peace processes, ensuring accountability and promoting continuous improvement.
A Call to Action
As conflicts continue to devastate communities worldwide, the need for women’s involvement in peace and security is clearer than ever.
Women are not only victims but also vital agents of change, whose voices and experiences can shape more inclusive, sustainable peace.
With comprehensive policies, adequate funding, and a commitment to cultural and institutional reform, the international community can help ensure that women are empowered to lead the way toward a more secure, equitable future.
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