Women face growing dangers in war zones, with one in four civilian deaths being female, a UN report reveals.
Rising toll of women in conflict
According to a recent United Nations report released on October 26, the number of women and girls killed in conflicts has sharply increased worldwide. In 2025, over 37,000 civilians lost their lives in wars and armed clashes, with one in every four casualties being female. This marks a doubling compared to 2021, highlighting the escalating risks faced by women amidst ongoing violence.
The report also points out that more women and girls now live near conflict zones than at any time since 1990. Approximately 750 million women and girls reside within 50 kilometers of active war areas, a rise of 40 million compared to 2024. The consequences extend beyond fatalities to include heightened exposure to sexual violence, extreme poverty, and displacement.
Challenges for women in conflict zones
The study highlights multiple hardships endured by women in war-torn regions. Verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence have quadrupled from 2022 to 2025. Around 170 million women and girls live where daily survival costs less than 3 US dollars, reflecting severe economic deprivation. Additionally, they spend five times more unpaid hours on household and caregiving duties than men in these areas.
The UN Women Executive Director, Seema Bahous, noted the unprecedented number of women trapped in conflict today. The report also raises concerns about the increased use of drones, long-range weapons, and artificial intelligence in warfare, which pose heightened dangers to civilians, especially in densely populated areas.
Despite facing these dangers, women remain underrepresented in peace negotiations. The report states that in 2025, women made up only 5 percent of negotiators in 57 peace processes worldwide, down from 7 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, global military spending reached a record $2.9 trillion that year, contrasting with deep financial shortages faced by women-led organizations in conflict zones.
These groups play vital roles by providing shelter and support to survivors of sexual violence and helping resolve local disputes. However, 40 percent of such organizations fear they may have to pause or cease operations within the next year due to funding cuts, threatening critical services for affected women.
UN recommendations for improving women’s safety and participation
The United Nations calls for stronger protection of women and girls in conflict areas, enforcement of international laws, and sustained funding for peace initiatives led by women. The report urges governments and international bodies to ensure meaningful inclusion of women in peace and security decisions, emphasizing that excluding women from peacebuilding processes worsens conflict impacts on them.
This report sheds light on the ongoing and intensifying damages war inflicts on women globally. Enhancing women’s safety and leadership in conflict resolution is pivotal to building lasting peace and addressing the disproportionate toll wars take on female populations.
Key facts
- In 2025, 1 in 4 conflict deaths among civilians were women or girls.
- 750 million women live near active conflict zones, up by 40 million from 2024.
- Sexual violence linked to conflicts has increased fourfold between 2022 and 2025.
- Women negotiators accounted for just 5% of peace talks in 2025, down from 7% in 2024.
