War became a death sentence for women and girls

“We were sitting on the sixth floor when they attacked the seventh floor – my uncle’s apartment,” he said. “My uncle’s wife shouted, ‘My children! My children are missing!’ As I rushed to help him, they fired a second bullet. That’s when my mother and brothers were killed.”

Mona survived the attacks in Gaza, but her mother, sister and brother did not. The airstrike destroyed his family’s home and left him with life-changing injuries, including having his leg amputated.

Her story reflects the evolving reality for millions of women and girls trapped in today’s wars.

As noted by the UN Civilian Protection Weeknumber of active conflicts around the world highest since 1946. Conflicts are becoming longer, more violent, and increasingly occurring in densely populated environments rather than on distant battlefields.

Homes, schools, hospitals and shelters were destroyed, while civilians bore the brunt of the violence.

Women as victims

Although bombs do not differentiate between men and women, the impact of war often falls disproportionately on women and girls.

The UN reported this 37,000 civilians killed in 20 armed conflicts by 2025, with nearly one in five victims being women.

Women and girls are more likely to become refugees, be excluded from school or work, be cut off from health services and be exposed to sexual violence, hunger and extreme poverty.

As communities around them collapse, many must care for children, elderly relatives and the injured while trying to survive.

In the Gaza38,000 women and girls had been killed in the war by December 2025, even as ceasefire efforts continued. Residential buildings accounted for more than 95 percent of recorded infrastructure damage.

A spike in sexual violence

That The UN verified more than 9,300 cases of conflict-related sexual violence by 2025The number is more than double the previous year, although officials warn that the actual number is likely much higher because many survivors do not report the abuse. Women and girls account for more than 95 percent of reported cases.

In the Sudannow entering its fourth year of war, the number of women and girls needing support following gender-based violence has almost doubled in two years and has quadrupled since the conflict began.

Women were attacked in their homes and while seeking food, water and medical care.

Conflict also drives mass displacement. By the end of 2024, more than 123 million people will be displaced worldwide by war.violence and abuse.

Women and girls fleeing conflict often face overcrowded shelters, separation from family members, exploitation and repeated displacement.

The healthcare system collapsed

In Gaza, the UN reported that 94 percent of hospitals had been damaged or destroyed by December 2025, leaving women giving birth without adequate medical care and injured civilians struggling to access treatment.

Nearly 700,000 women and girls cannot manage their periods properly due to a lack of sanitation supplies and unsafe living conditions.

The psychological impact is also huge. Women in countries including Afghanistan, UkraineGaza and Lebanon face widespread depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, often with little access to mental health services.

Call for participation

Despite carrying many burdens to survive during the war, women are still largely excluded from peace negotiations and political decision-making.

Globally, women only make up seven percent of negotiators and 14 percent of mediators in formal peace processes.

Yet women continue to lead survival and recovery efforts in conflict zones by running soup kitchens, supporting refugee families, rebuilding livelihoods and advocating for peace.

The UN warns that without greater protection, funding and inclusion for women and girls, modern warfare will continue to deepen inequalities and destroy generations already struggling to survive.