Publish: 09:05, 26 Oct, 2024

War affects over 600 million women and girls, UN says

Online Desk
War affects over 600 million women and girls, UN says
Photo - Collected

According to the top U.N. officials, more than 600 million women and girls are now affected by war, a 50% increase from a decade ago, and they fear the world has forgotten them amid an escalating backlash against women’s rights and gender equality.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a new report that amid record levels of armed conflict and violence, progress over the decades for women is vanishing and “generational gains in women’s rights hang in the balance around the world.”

The U.N. chief was assessing the state of a Security Council resolution adopted on Oct. 31, 2000, that demanded equal participation for women in peace negotiations, a goal that remains as distant as gender equality.

Guterres said current data and findings show that “the transformative potential of women’s leadership and inclusion in the pursuit of peace” is being undercut — with power and decision-making on peace and security matters overwhelmingly in the hands of men.

“As long as oppressive patriarchal social structures and gender biases hold back half our societies, peace will remain elusive,” he warned.

The report says the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023 compared with a year earlier; U.N.-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence were 50% higher; and the number of girls affected by grave violations in conflicts increased by 35%.

At a two-day U.N. Security Council meeting on the topic that ended Friday, Sima Bahous, head of the U.N. agency promoting gender equality known as UN Women, also pointed to a lack of attention to women’s voices in the search for peace.

She cited the fears of millions of women and girls in Afghanistan deprived of an education and a future; of displaced women in Gaza “waiting for death”; of women in Sudan who are victims of sexual violence; and of the vanishing hopes of women in Myanmar, Haiti, Congo, the Sahel region of Africa, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen and elsewhere.

Bahous said 612 million women and girls who are affected by war “wonder if the world has already forgotten them, if they have fallen from the agenda of an international community overwhelmed by crises of ever deeper frequency, severity and urgency.”

The world needs to answer their fears with hope, she said, but the reality is grim: “One in two women and girls in conflict-affected settings are facing moderate to severe food insecurity, 61% of all maternal mortality is concentrated in 35 conflict-affected countries.”

As for women’s participation in decision-making and politics in countries in conflict, Bahous said it’s stalled.

“The percentage of women in peace negotiations has not improved over the last decade: under 10% on average in all processes, and under 20% in processes led or supported by the United Nations,” she said.

U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed announced the launch of a “Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes,” and urged governments, regional organizations and others involved in mediation to join the U.N. in taking concrete steps toward that end. The commitments include appointing women as lead mediators and team members, promoting direct and meaningful participation of women in peace processes, consulting women leaders at all stages and embedding women with expertise “to foster gender-responsive peace processes and agreements,” she said.

Many U.N. ambassadors who spoke at the council meeting focused on the lack of “political will” to promote women in the peace process.

“We’ve seen how the lack of political will continues to stand in the way of the full implementation of the commitments entered into by member states,” Panama’s U.N. Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba said Friday.

Bd-pratidin English/Afia

More News
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine
South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?
Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?
Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback
Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback
Saudi Arabia leads Arab world in congratulating Trump
Saudi Arabia leads Arab world in congratulating Trump
Iran urges Israel’s suspension from UN General Assembly
Iran urges Israel’s suspension from UN General Assembly
Biden blamed by Harris allies for vice president's major loss
Biden blamed by Harris allies for vice president's major loss
Will judge Trump by his actions on Ukraine: Russia
Will judge Trump by his actions on Ukraine: Russia
IDF claims of killing 60 Hezbollah members
IDF claims of killing 60 Hezbollah members
Israeli strikes kill at least 40 in east Lebanon: Health ministry
Israeli strikes kill at least 40 in east Lebanon: Health ministry
Latest News
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win
Biden promises 'peaceful' transition in wake of Trump win

4 hours ago | International

Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs
Dengue takes 7 more lives in 24hrs

5 hours ago | National

Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief
Delegation of US Indo-Pacific Command paid a courtesy call on Army Chief

5 hours ago | National

Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum
Rickshaw carrying martyr Nafiz to be preserved at Ganabhaban memorial museum

6 hours ago | National

Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali
Forest officials rescue 12 endangered capped langurs in Moheshkhali

6 hours ago | National

Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation
Bangladesh Bank Governor urges patience as it could take time to curb inflation

6 hours ago | Economy

There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary
There will be documentation of money wasted in the name of Mujib Year: CA’s Press Secretary

7 hours ago | National

Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River
Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River

7 hours ago | National

Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump
Touhid sees no major shift in US policy towards Bangladesh under Trump

7 hours ago | National

Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry
Local, foreign investors urged to invest in Bangladesh's marine, offshore industry

7 hours ago | City

South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine
South Korea hints at providing weapons to Ukraine

7 hours ago | International

Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman
Bury political divisions for greater national interests: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman

8 hours ago | National

British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series
British Council launches 3rd ‘Next Generation Bangladesh’ research series

8 hours ago | City

Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct
Inflation in Bangladesh went up in Oct

9 hours ago | Economy

Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor
Government prioritizes environmental protection to build a new Bangladesh: Environment Advisor

9 hours ago | National

Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down
Price fall in large-cap drives stocks further down

9 hours ago | Economy

Khelafat Majlis nominates 5 for New EC formation
Khelafat Majlis nominates 5 for New EC formation

9 hours ago | National

NBR nominates six officials for C&F Agent attachment
NBR nominates six officials for C&F Agent attachment

9 hours ago | Economy

Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria
Three arrested over killing of 2 auto-rickshaw drivers in Gendaria

9 hours ago | City

Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act
Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act

10 hours ago | National

Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone
Mumbai police summon Raipur man after Shah Rukh Khan receives death threat over phone

10 hours ago | Showbiz

PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal

10 hours ago | Sports

Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week

10 hours ago | International

Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled
Allotment of land to Bannya’s music school Shurer Dhara cancelled

11 hours ago | Showbiz

Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG
Foreign Adviser welcomes new CIRDAP DG

11 hours ago | National

Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec
Economic census 2024 to begin on 10 Dec

11 hours ago | Economy

BNP activists gather at Ziaur Rahman's grave to pay tribute
BNP activists gather at Ziaur Rahman's grave to pay tribute

11 hours ago | National

Australia to ban social media for children under 16
Australia to ban social media for children under 16

11 hours ago | Lifestyle

Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn

11 hours ago | International

Fire erupts in Badda residential building
Fire erupts in Badda residential building

11 hours ago | City

Most Read
Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics
Netherlands, CGS launch project to empower women and youth in Bangladesh politics

12 hours ago | National

China’s PLA launches latest J-35A stealth fighter jet
China’s PLA launches latest J-35A stealth fighter jet

18 hours ago | Tech

Give election immediately for full reform of country: Golam Parwar
Give election immediately for full reform of country: Golam Parwar

15 hours ago | National

Bangladesh must be developed in such a way that the world is drawn closer to it: CA
Bangladesh must be developed in such a way that the world is drawn closer to it: CA

13 hours ago | National

Massive victory of four Bangladeshis
Massive victory of four Bangladeshis

16 hours ago | National

Kamal's old house in Bagbari, the birthplace of Ziaur Rahman
Kamal's old house in Bagbari, the birthplace of Ziaur Rahman

15 hours ago | Special

8,000 crore in the syndicate's pocket
8,000 crore in the syndicate's pocket

16 hours ago | Special

Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act
Govt decides to repeal Cyber Security Act

10 hours ago | National

Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn
Israel buys 25 US-made F-15 aircraft for $5.2bn

11 hours ago | International

Trump and allies prepare for power shift following landslide victory over Harris
Trump and allies prepare for power shift following landslide victory over Harris

15 hours ago | International

World leaders praise Trump
World leaders praise Trump

17 hours ago | International

Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs
Mushfiqur Rahim uncertain in remaining ODIs

14 hours ago | Sports

Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory
Global icons express their disappointment over Trump's victory

12 hours ago | Showbiz

Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?
Which direction will Trump choose on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China?

11 hours ago | International

Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case
Former IGP Mamun testifies in tribunal case

12 hours ago | National

Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans
Bangladesh suffer 92-run defeat in first ODI against Afghans

19 hours ago | Sports

Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia
Ponting foresees India's "Collapse" in Australia

14 hours ago | Sports

China's consistent US policy as Asian nations react to Trump’s win
China's consistent US policy as Asian nations react to Trump’s win

18 hours ago | International

Trump’s victory unlikely to alter US Fed rate cut plans
Trump’s victory unlikely to alter US Fed rate cut plans

16 hours ago | International

Dhaka’s air quality remains the same ‘unhealthy’
Dhaka’s air quality remains the same ‘unhealthy’

17 hours ago | City

CID investigating Anisul’s ‘girlfriend’ Tawfiqa
CID investigating Anisul’s ‘girlfriend’ Tawfiqa

19 hours ago | National

All set to take Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment
All set to take Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment

17 hours ago | National

WhatsApp launches new feature
WhatsApp launches new feature

16 hours ago | Tech

Why did Vidya consider herself ‘Unlucky’?
Why did Vidya consider herself ‘Unlucky’?

13 hours ago | Showbiz

PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal
PSG's heartbreaking defeat sealed by last-minute goal

10 hours ago | Sports

BNP proposes 5 names for new EC
BNP proposes 5 names for new EC

17 hours ago | National

King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win
King, Carty centuries seal West Indies series win

15 hours ago | Sports

Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback
Biden to address nation after Trump's mighty comeback

12 hours ago | International

Blocked accounts on X can now see your public posts
Blocked accounts on X can now see your public posts

16 hours ago | Tech

Shuvosangho organizes tree plantation event in Betagi
Shuvosangho organizes tree plantation event in Betagi

14 hours ago | Shuvosangho