Securing Women’s Safety at the Time of War

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, millions of women are facing grave risks from displacement, violence, and loss. On this International Women’s Day, it is crucial to recognize the unique challenges women experience during armed conflicts — from direct violence to long-term psychological and economic harm. Evidence from past wars shows that gender-based violence increases sharply during and after conflicts, demanding urgent international attention and support.

Women’s Vulnerability During the Ukraine War

The war in Ukraine has caused immense human suffering, forcing over 1.5 million people to flee by early March 2022. Russian attacks have targeted cities, disrupted humanitarian aid, and endangered civilians. Research shows that women in war zones face multiple layers of risk — including sexual violence, psychological abuse, and displacement-related exploitation. Gender-based violence often extends beyond physical assault, encompassing coercion, loss of freedom, and systemic mistreatment (Wirtz et al., 2014).

Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War

Scholars now recognize sexual violence in armed conflicts as a deliberate tool of warfare rather than random brutality (Skjelsbaek, 2001). Studies indicate that aggressors from gender-unequal societies are more likely to use such violence (Taylor, 1999; Meger, 2016; Guarnieri & Tur-Prats, 2020). Even after fleeing, women face heightened threats in refugee camps, where sexual and domestic violence often persist (Araujo et al., 2019; Stark & Ager, 2011).

Protecting Women in Conflict and Displacement

Governments, humanitarian organizations, and the international community must prioritize women’s safety, justice, and empowerment. Key steps include:

• Ensuring safe evacuation from conflict zones.
• Holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable, with zero tolerance for impunity.
• Including sexual violence in sanctions regimes, per UN Security Council Resolution 1820.
• Involving refugee women in leadership roles in protection programs.
• Providing training and awareness on gender-based violence prevention.
• Enabling legal work opportunities for displaced women to prevent exploitation.
• Offering mental health and trauma support for survivors.

A Call for Global Solidarity

As we hope for peace and the safe return of displaced families, this International Women’s Day should serve as a call to action — to strengthen protection for women, prevent gender-based violence in conflict, and ensure justice for survivors.

The FREE Network and the Forum for Research on Gender Economics (FROGEE) continue to advocate for women’s safety and empowerment, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

References

• Araujo, J. D. O., Souza, F. M. D., Proença, R., Bastos, M. L., Trajman, A., & Faerstein, E. (2019). Prevalence of sexual violence among refugees: a systematic review. Revista de saude publica, 53. 
• Meger, S. (2016). Rape loot pillage: The political economy of sexual violence in armed conflict. Oxford University Press
•  Ray S, Heller L. (2009). Peril or protection: the link between livelihoods and gender-based violence in displacement settings. New York (NY): Women’s Refugee Commission. 
• Skjelsbaek, I. (2001). Sexual violence and war: Mapping out a complex relationship. European journal of international relations, 7(2), 211-237. 
• Spangaro, J., Adogu, C., Ranmuthugala, G., Powell Davies, G., Steinacker, L., & Zwi, A. (2013).What evidence exists for initiatives to reduce risk and incidence of sexual violence in armed conflict and other humanitarian crises? A systematic review. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(5):1–13.
• Spangaro, J., Adogu, C., Zwi, A. B., Ranmuthugala, G., & Davies, G. P. (2015). Mechanisms underpinning interventions to reduce sexual violence in armed conflict: A realist-informed systematic review. Conflict and health, 9(1), 1-14. 
•  Stark, L., & Ager, A. (2011). A systematic review of prevalence studies of gender-based violence in complex emergencies. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 12(3), 127-134. 
• Taylor, C. C. (1999). A gendered genocide: Tutsi women and Hutu extremists in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. PoLAR, 22, 42. 
• Willman, A. M., & Corman, C. (2013). Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: What is the World Bank Doing and What Have We Learned, A Strategic Review. Washington (DC): World Bank.  
• Wirtz, A. L., Pham, K., Glass, N., Loochkartt, S., Kidane, T., Cuspoca, D., & Vu, A. (2014). Gender-based violence in conflict and displacement: qualitative findings from displaced women in Colombia. Conflict and health, 8(1), 1-14. 
• UNHCR. (2011). Action against sexual and gender-based violence: an updated strategy. Geneva: UNHCR Division of International Protection.