The world is witnessing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946, placing women and girls in unprecedented danger, according to the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security.
The report reveals that 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict zones, the highest figure recorded since the 1990s. Civilian casualties among women and children have quadrupled in the past two years, while conflict-related sexual violence has surged by 87 per cent.
Released on the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which championed women’s participation and protection in peace and security, the report warns that decades of progress are rapidly unraveling.
“Women and girls are being killed in record numbers, shut out of peace tables, and left unprotected as wars multiply. Women do not need more promises, they need power, protection, and equal participation,” UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous said.
Despite strong evidence that women’s participation makes peace agreements more durable, their exclusion from decision-making persists. In 2024, nine out of ten peace processes had no women negotiators, with women comprising just 7 per cent of negotiators and 14 per cent of mediators globally.
The report further highlights a stark funding imbalance, while global military spending topped USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, women’s organisations in conflict zones received only 0.4 per cent of total aid. Many of these frontline groups are now on the verge of closure due to lack of funding.
“These are not isolated data points; they reflect a world choosing to invest in war instead of peace, and one that continues to exclude women from shaping solutions,” Bahous added.
Calling for a gender data revolution, the report stresses that without disaggregated data, women’s experiences in war remain invisible, undermining accountability and effective policy responses.
The UN Women urged governments and global institutions to deliver concrete, measurable outcomes including inclusive political solutions, more women leading security and recovery efforts, and stronger accountability for violations, particularly through justice and reparations for survivors.
