The number of women and girls killed in civil war has doubled since 2021

At least 25 women and girls are killed every day in conflict situationsThe UN Secretary-General’s annual report on Women, Peace and Security found – and as civilian deaths rose, sexual violence increased and women were largely excluded from peace negotiations.

Some 750 million women and girls now live within 50 kilometers of active conflict, 40 million more than in 2024 and more than at any time since 1990.

“War is increasingly deadly for women and girls, and the world is letting it happen,” UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda briefed journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, presenting the report.

“For them, war is not something they can get past. War is beyond their reach.”

Apart from bombs

For women and girls caught up in war, the threats extend far beyond the battlefield.

In 2025, the UN verified 9,788 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, twice as many as in the previous year, and almost four times as many as in 2022..

In Haiti, reported cases of sexual violence increased by 163 percent.

A woman who gives birth in a conflict-affected country is five times more likely to die from maternal disease than a woman who gives birth in a stable country. Ms. said Gumbonzvanda.

In Gaza, the destruction of hospitals and maternity facilities and the collapse of access to essential supplies have contributed to a The live birth rate decreased by 41 percent and the miscarriage rate increased by 300 percent.

The war also pushed women further into poverty. Some 170 million women and girls live in zones of conflict and extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 a day, while in conflict-affected countries they spend five times more time on unpaid care work than men and boys.

The increasing use of drones and long-range weapons in densely populated areas – including attacks on schools, markets and hospitals – is raising safety concerns, the report warned.

Shut down from peace

Yet women are still largely excluded from efforts to end the fighting. By 2025, they would account for just five percent of negotiators in 57 peace processes, down seven percent from the previous year, and none of the 13 ceasefire agreements explicitly prohibits conflict-related sexual violence.

At the same time, Global military spending hit a record $2.9 trillion last yearwhile 40 percent of women’s organizations in crisis-affected areas are expected to temporarily or permanently close next year due to severe funding shortages.

“More women and girls are trapped in war than at any time in recent decades. Yet military spending continues to rise and development aid continues to decline,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

UN Women calls for the protection of women and girls, their meaningful participation in peace and security, continued investment in women-led peacebuilding, and an end to impunity.

“War is a human choice. So does peace,” Ms. Gumbonzvanda said.