The well-being of victims of sexual violence is crucial for lasting peace

Women rarely start wars, but often suffer the most – driven from their homes, separated from their families, deprived of their livelihoods, and subjected to violence. Their bodies were never meant to be battlefields, but they become so when sexual violence is targeted during conflict to further terrorize them and their communities.

With the growing number of conflicts around the world, cases of conflict-related sexual violence have reached a frightening peak, increasing by 50 percent between 2022 and 2023 alone. Women and girls are attacked and raped, forced into marriage and sexual slavery, and then must cope with dire consequences that can last a lifetime, including post-traumatic stress, sexually transmitted infections, social stigma and isolation, physical injuries, and unwanted pregnancies.

Most cases of sexual violence are directed against women, with one third of these affecting girls. Women who are human rights activists and public servants are increasingly being targeted.

Sexual violence in conflict is a war crime that silences voices advocating for peace. This silence only deepens when those who speak out against rampant violence receive little support.

Tragically, most cases of conflict-related sexual violence go unreported and even fewer are prosecuted. A large proportion of perpetrators remain at large, perpetuating impunity. At the same time, survivors are all too often left with few resources to heal their bodies and minds, particularly where targeted attacks on health facilities have left communities deprived of life-saving services.

Every woman and girl in every conflict deserves protection and, where this is lacking, quality care and rapid access to justice. In 2023, UNFPA provided protection from gender-based violence to around six million people in 50 crisis-affected countries. Over 1,800 shelters offered emotional and physical refuge to women and girls.

Together, we must do more. We must scale up services to meet the needs of even more survivors and protect their rights. To do this, it is critical to close the huge funding gap that is holding back progress. Currently, less than 15 percent of the funding needed for basic prevention and protection services to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in crises is available.

Women and girls know the solutions that work best for them and their communities. We need their representation in peace and political processes before, during and after conflict. Their leadership and meaningful participation can influence humanitarian decisions to reduce and ultimately end sexual violence in war. This is a principle that UNFPA advocates and practices as the leading first responder to gender-based violence in humanitarian situations.

Lasting peace will only be possible if we silence the guns, not the survivors of sexual violence, and if we create a world where women and girls can speak their truth and live in dignity and safety.

UNFPA is the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA’s mission is to create a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education.