Wars on women escalate as global conflicts reach record highs — UN report

The world is witnessing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946, creating unprecedented risks and suffering for women and girls, according to the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security.

The report reveals that 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict; the highest level since the 1990s. Civilian casualties among women and children have quadrupled compared to the previous two years, while conflict-related sexual violence has surged by 87 per cent.

Released on the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which committed the global community to ensuring women’s full participation and protection in peace and security, the report warns that decades of progress are rapidly unraveling.

“Women and girls are being killed in record numbers, shut out of peace tables, and left unprotected as wars multiply. Women do not need more promises—they need power, protection, and equal participation,” said Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women.

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Despite clear evidence that women’s participation makes peace more durable, they remain largely excluded from decision-making.

While more countries have adopted national action plans to implement Resolution 1325, tangible change remains limited.

In 2024, nine out of ten peace processes had no women negotiators, with women representing only 7 per cent of negotiators and 14 per cent of mediators globally.

The report also highlights a stark imbalance in global priorities. Military spending exceeded USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, yet women’s organizations in conflict zones received only 0.4 per cent of aid.

Many frontline women’s groups are on the verge of closure due to financial constraints.

“These are not isolated data points, they are symptoms of a world that is choosing to invest in war instead of peace, and one that continues to exclude women from shaping solutions,” Bahous added.

The report further calls for a “gender data revolution,” emphasizing that without disaggregated data, women’s experiences in war zones remain invisible and unaccounted for. Closing these data gaps is critical for accountability and inclusive decision-making.

UN Women is calling for concrete, measurable results, including conflicts resolved through inclusive political solutions, more women leading security reforms and recovery efforts, and stronger accountability for violations with justice and reparations for survivors at the forefront.