Protecting women’s rights amid conflict and instability, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, is a global platform for advocating women’s rights and gender equality.
• The UN officially recognized the day in 1977.
• The UN theme for 2026 is “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls”.
• Conflicts exacerbate vulnerabilities, disproportionately affecting women and children through gender-based violence, food insecurity, and displacement.
• UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was adopted in 2000, but implementation gaps persist.
• In 2024, women constituted only 7% of negotiators and 14% of mediators in peace processes.

Detailed Insights:

• Armed conflicts escalate gender-based violence, restrict mobility, disrupt families, and limit access to healthcare and education for women and girls.
• Women in conflict zones face increased risks of rape, sexual violence, mental health issues like depression and PTSD, and are often excluded from peace talks.
• Despite Resolution 1325, inequalities have worsened, with conflicts weakening institutions protecting women, and the world is experiencing the highest number of active conflicts since 1946.
• The UN Secretary-General Report indicates nearly 676 million women live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflicts, with civilian casualties among women and children quadrupling.
• Women's participation in peace processes leads to more durable agreements, yet they remain largely excluded from decision-making roles in conflict resolution.
• Protecting women's rights in conflict zones requires collective action, including providing food, education, healthcare, financial aid, and emotional support.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gender Equality: Equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all genders.
• UN Security Council Resolution 1325: A resolution on Women, Peace and Security, urging the protection of women during conflicts and their inclusion in peacebuilding.
• Gender-Based Violence: Violence directed against a person based on their gender.