(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
WASHINGTON – Women and girls are facing growing risks in armed conflicts worldwide, with their share of civilian deaths doubling since 2021 and verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence more than doubling in 2025, according to UN Women.
Speaking to reporters Monday, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda warned that women and girls are increasingly bearing the consequences of armed conflicts, including violence, displacement, and loss of life.
Gumbonzvanda said more than 37,000 civilians were killed in conflicts worldwide in 2025, with women and girls accounting for one in every four deaths, twice their proportion in 2021.
She added that at least 25 women and girls were killed daily, while more than 750 million lived within 50 kilometers of areas affected by armed conflict.
“The conflicts that have disappeared from our screens, but not from the lives of women and girls enduring them. And for women and girls who survive, the burden is relentless,” Gumbonzvanda said.
The UN official also reported a significant rise in conflict-related sexual violence, with 9,788 verified cases in 2025, more than twice the number recorded in 2024 and nearly four times the 2022 figure.
“Women are paying the price of war,” she emphasized.
Gumbonzvanda called on governments and international organizations to strengthen civilian protection, uphold international humanitarian law, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related abuses.
She also urged world leaders to include women in peace negotiations and increase financial support for women-led organizations providing humanitarian assistance and promoting peacebuilding efforts.
Meanwhile, UN Women Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division Director Sarah Hendriks expressed concern over the increasing number of armed conflicts worldwide.
According to Hendriks, more than 185 conflicts were recorded globally in 2025, including 65 involving states.
“Wars are multiplying; the ways that wars are fought are changing, and it is women and girls who are paying the price,” Hendriks said.
UN Women reiterated the need for stronger international action to protect women and girls, address sexual violence in conflict zones, and ensure their meaningful participation in peace and security efforts.
