UN Report Details Rising Dangers for Women in Conflict
A new report reveals rising violence against women in war zones and a significant decline in their peace negotiation participation.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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Should governments prioritize funding for local peacebuilding organizations over increasing military spending?
The United Nations reports that fatalities among women and girls in armed conflicts have doubled since 2021, while conflict-related sexual violence cases quadrupled between 2022 and 2025. Concurrently, women's inclusion in peace processes has hit a low of five percent.
Why it matters
The decline in female participation in peace negotiations is linked to a lack of investment and funding for women's organizations. As global military spending reaches record highs, the exclusion of these groups undermines efforts to address the gendered impacts of modern warfare.
Approximately 170 million women and girls currently live in both conflict zones and extreme poverty. These individuals spend five times as many hours on unpaid domestic and care work as men in similar conflict-affected countries.
The players
United Nations
This is an international organization founded in 1945 that is committed to maintaining international peace and security through collaborative efforts.
The details
Rising threats are exacerbated by the increasing use of long-range weapons and drones in populated areas, which disproportionately impacts civilians. Meanwhile, 40 percent of women's organizations in crisis settings face potential closure due to critical funding shortfalls.
Timeline
The United Nations published the report on October 26, 2026.
Data regarding death tolls uses 2021 as a base year for comparison.
Verified conflict-related sexual violence trends cover the period from 2022 to 2025.
Women held seven percent of peace negotiation roles in 2024.
Global military expenditure reached USD 2.9 trillion in 2025.
Culture Shift
The report highlights a stark departure from the goals set by the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. This trend reflects a broader erosion of institutional efforts to formalize gender equality in post-conflict reconstruction.
While this report focuses on international trends, it highlights the increasing fragility of support systems for women in crisis areas. Readers involved in charitable giving may see more frequent appeals as nearly half of these essential local organizations face closure.
The takeaway
The exclusion of women from peace negotiations continues to correlate with a lack of sustained financial backing for their organizations. Supporting locally-led groups in crisis zones remains a critical intervention point for global stability.
What happens next
Forty percent of women's organizations in crisis-affected settings expect to shut down within the next year if funding remains at current levels.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing global challenges in the Women’s Issues section.
Live Poll
Should governments prioritize funding for local peacebuilding organizations over increasing military spending?
