Gender based Violence
Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, has reported that over 60 million women and girls worldwide face heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV). These dangers are particularly severe for those affected by conflict and displacement. Alarmingly, UN data reveals a 50% increase in cases of sexual violence compared to last year, with 95% of the victims being women and girls.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women and girls endure unimaginable suffering, as their bodies have become part of the "battlefield" amidst recurring violence and growing insecurity, even within designated displacement sites. Humanitarian data shows a rise in gender-based violence, with rape being the most frequently reported violation.
In Chad, women fleeing the conflict in Sudan have reported being raped during their escape. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, increasing restrictions on women and girls, coupled with widespread domestic violence and an economic downturn, are fueling a mental health crisis. UNHCR partners have noted a rise in the number of women seeking mental health support. Migrant women traveling along Mediterranean routes face appalling risks, including sexual violence, exploitation, enslavement, and human trafficking. Disturbingly, humanitarian estimates indicate that 90% of women and girls on these migration routes are raped.
The demand for GBV prevention and response services far outstrips available resources. For example, the combined funding needs for six major regional refugee response plans—covering refugees from the DRC, Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine, South Sudan, and Syria—amount to $236 million annually. However, only 28% of this funding has been secured.
The UNHCR warns that without sufficient financial support, millions of displaced women and girls may lose access to critical services next year. Early and effective GBV prevention and response measures are not just essential but transformative. These programs have proven to save and improve lives for displaced and stateless women and girls, as well as the communities hosting them.
As this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign unfolds, the UNHCR calls for increased support to combat gender-based violence and ensure a safer future for women and girls everywhere.
