The United Nations has called for stronger protection of women and girlsfollowing a sharp increase in civilian deaths resulting from armed conflicts around the world.

The call came as the 2026 UN SecretaryGeneral’s report on Women, Peace and Security revealed that more than 37,000 civilians were killed in conflicts in 2025, with women and girls accounting for one in four deaths, double their 2021 figure.

The report, which was released yesterday also disclosed that approximately 750 million women and girls currentlylive within 50 kilometres of an active conflict, an increase of 40 million from 2024 and the highest figure recorded since 1990.

UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, warned that the growing exposure of women and girls to armed conflict has been compounded by rising military expenditure and declining development assistance.

“More women and girls are trapped in wars than at any point in decades. Yet, military spending keeps rising and development assistance keeps falling, even as investing in women’s leadership, conflict prevention and peacebuilding has never been more urgent”, Bahous said.

The report highlighted the growing threats confronting women and girls in conflict zones, including sexual violence, displacement, extreme poverty and increased unpaid domestic and care responsibilities.

Cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the UN nearly quadrupled between 2022 and 2025, according to the report, adding that about 170 million women and girls live in both conflict zones and extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 daily and accounting for almost 40 per cent of women and girls living in extreme poverty globally.

The report further warned that changing patterns of warfare and declining respect for international law were increasing the risks faced by women and girls.

It cited the growing use of drones and long-range weapons in populated areas, including deliberate attacks on schools, markets and hospitals, as a source of concern.

Emerging Artificial Intelligence-enabled military technologies were also identified as posing additional risks.

Despite the challenges, women continue to play critical roles in protecting communities, supporting survivors and preventing violence.

“Every day, women around the world are working to end wars and build peace – protecting survivors, keeping communities together and stopping violence before it starts. Their work is one of the best investments the world can make in peace”, Bahous said.

However, women’s participation in formal peace negotiations remains limited. The report showed that women accounted for only five per cent of negotiators across 57 peace processes worldwide in 2025, down from seven per cent in 2024.

The report also highlighted funding challenges facing women-led organisations working in crisis-affected communities.

While global military expenditure reached a record $2.9 trillion in 2025, 40 per cent of women’s organisations in crisis-affected settings expect to shut down temporarily or permanently within the next year because of severe funding shortfalls.

Such organisations mediate local tensions, shelter displaced people, support survivors and help sustain community cohesion, the report stated.

UN Women therefore called for strengthening of international law and end to impunity.