What's happened
A recent UN report reveals a troubling rise in violence against women in conflict zones, with women accounting for 40% of civilian deaths in 2023. The report underscores the urgent need for women's participation in peace processes, which remains critically low despite international commitments.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the UN report indicates that women are increasingly targeted in conflicts, with Sima Bahous stating, "Women continue to pay the price of the wars of men." The Independent highlights the grim statistics, noting that the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023. All Africa emphasizes the lack of funding for women's rights organizations, which receive only 0.3% of total aid, despite military spending reaching $2.44 trillion. This disparity underscores the urgent need for a shift in priorities to support women's roles in peace and security.
How we got here
The report marks nearly 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which aimed to enhance women's roles in peace and security. Despite this, women's involvement in peace negotiations has stagnated, with less than 10% representation in recent processes.
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The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women.
UN Women became operational in January 2011.
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