Published on: 2026-10-01
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 1, 2026 Women
In an era of global upheavals and armed conflicts, women and girls suffer the most from violence and face particular challenges. This was stated on Thursday in The Hague by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, addressing participants of the Forum on Women, Peace, and Security. The meeting is organized by the International Civil Society Action Network.
Türk of the UN noted that women constitute the overwhelming majority of victims of conflict-related rape, abductions, trafficking, and sexual slavery. Women from racial, ethnic, and religious minorities are at particular risk.
At the same time, the High Commissioner called for moving away from perceiving women solely as passive victims, emphasizing their key role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. According to him, even in the harshest conditions, women continue to lead, organize aid, and document violations.
“We cannot build a sustainable peace in countries where discrimination and oppression prevail. We need to recognize that women-led civil society groups are vital partners and do everything possible to transfer resources and decision-making powers to them,” Turk said.
He cited data from the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, according to which last year 676 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometers of active conflict zones. This is a record figure since the end of the Cold War. Tjærn emphasized that support for human rights defenders in these zones must be a key element of security.
Türk also called for a complete rethinking of the very approach to security, placing equality, social justice, and respect for human rights at the forefront. He emphasized that these factors make society much more secure than inflated military budgets and shrinking expenditures on basic social needs.
“Gender equality is not a service that men provide to women. It is a foundation of humanity that benefits everyone,” said the High Commissioner.
Volker Türk stated that the UN Human Rights Office under his authority will continue to support women human rights defenders, facilitate accountability for sexual violence in Colombia, Sudan, the DRC, and other regions, and promote the role of women in peacebuilding processes worldwide.
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