Published on: 2026-10-26
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 26, 2026 Women
Last year, more than 37,000 civilians died as a result of conflicts worldwide. According to the report published today by the UN Secretary-General, dedicated to the theme “Women, Peace and Security,” a quarter of all those killed were girls and women. This is twice as many as in 2021.
Currently, about 750 million women and girls live within a 50-kilometer radius of an active conflict zone – that is 40 million more than in 2024. This figure is the highest since 1990.
“Today, there are more women and girls in situations of war than at any time in recent decades. At the same time, military spending continues to increase, while development aid is shrinking, although investments in women’s leadership, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding are now more necessary than ever,” stated the head of the UN Women structure, Sima Bahous.
For women and girls caught in conflict zones, the threat extends beyond bombings. The number of conflict-related cases of sexual violence confirmed by the United Nations has nearly quadrupled from 2022 to 2025.
War also exacerbates poverty among women and increases the amount of unpaid labor related to caregiving. About 170 million women and girls live in conflict zones in conditions of extreme poverty – less than three dollars a day. In countries affected by conflicts, women and girls spend five times more time on unpaid household work and caring for relatives than men and boys – which is double the global average.
The situation is exacerbated by changes in warfare methods and the increasing violations of international law by conflicting parties. The broader use of drones and long-range weapons in attacks on populated areas, including deliberate assaults on schools, markets, and hospitals, creates additional threats to women’s safety. The emergence of military technologies based on artificial intelligence worsens these risks.
Despite these difficulties, women continue to make efforts to protect their communities and achieve peace.
“Their activities are one of the best investments the world can make in the cause of peace,” Bacchus noted.
The report also states that in 2025 women constituted only five percent of the participants in negotiations within 57 peace processes worldwide (the year before, this figure was seven percent).
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that women’s work in this area receives almost no financial support. In 2025, global military expenditures reached a record high of $2.9 trillion. Meanwhile, 40 percent of women’s organizations operating in crisis regions expect that in the coming year they will have to temporarily or permanently cease their activities due to a severe lack of funds.
Women’s organizations are the foundation of lasting peace, the UN emphasizes. They help resolve local conflicts, provide shelter to displaced persons, and support victims.
The UN Women structure calls for ensuring the protection of all women and girls and respecting their rights, guaranteeing their full participation in peace and security processes, as well as providing long-term funding for women’s activities aimed at conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
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