The proportion of women killed in global war zones doubled last year, with women now making up 40% of all casualties in war zones, according to a new United Nations report.
UN Women’s report on the security of women and girls affected by conflict reveals that cases of UN-verified conflict-related sexual violence surged by 50% in 2023 compared to the previous year. In 2023, the UN recorded at least 33,443 civilian deaths due to armed conflicts, with women accounting for over 13,377 of these fatalities—roughly four out of every 10 civilians killed. Children constituted three out of 10 civilian casualties.
The report describes a “frightening spiral of conflict, instability, and violence,” noting 170 armed conflicts worldwide in 2023, and highlights the increasingly severe impact of warfare on women and girls.
“Women continue to pay the price of the wars of men,” said Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women. “This is occurring within a broader war on women, where the deliberate targeting of women’s rights is especially lethal in conflict zones.” The report also points to a “blatant disregard” for international laws meant to protect women and children in wartime, resulting in limited access to healthcare for women in conflict areas. Each day, 500 women and girls in war-torn regions died from pregnancy and childbirth complications. In Gaza, by the end of 2023, 180 women a day were giving birth, most without medical assistance.
In Sudan, where reports of sexual violence have been widespread, the UN agency found that many victims were unable to receive medical treatment within 72 hours of being raped, including access to emergency contraception. Some rape victims were also denied abortions due to legal time constraints.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in peace processes, comprising less than 10% of negotiators in 2023, despite evidence that their involvement leads to more durable and effective peace agreements.
The report arrives 24 years after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which called for the protection of women and girls in conflict and their full participation in peace efforts.
“We are witnessing the weaponization of gender equality on multiple fronts,” Bahous warned. “If we do not act now to demand change, the repercussions will persist for decades, and achieving peace will be even more challenging.”
