Protecting Women’s Rights Amid Conflict and Instability

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2- mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Introduction

International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8, highlights the struggle for gender equality and women’s rights. The 2026 theme — “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls” stresses the need for real progress. However, the world today faces growing conflicts, displacement, and instability. These crises increase violence, insecurity, and inequality for women and girls, making the protection of their rights a pressing global concern.

Global Conflicts and the Growing Vulnerability of Women

1. Rising global conflicts and instability: Several regions of the world are facing armed conflicts and wars. These conflicts cause destruction of infrastructure, displacement of communities, and large numbers of civilian deaths, including many women and children.
2. Women and children as the most vulnerable: Research and field studies show that women and girls suffer disproportionately in wars due to insecurity, displacement, economic collapse, and weakening of social protection systems.
3. Conflict intensifying existing gender inequalities: Conflicts worsen pre-existing discrimination against women. Political instability and weak institutions reduce the capacity of states to protect women’s rights.
4. Sexual violence used as a weapon of war: Rape and sexual violence have historically been used during wars to humiliate and subjugate the enemy, making women deliberate targets in many conflicts.
5. Psychological trauma among affected women: Women living in conflict zones frequently experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to violence, displacement, and loss of family and livelihood.

Impacts of Conflict on Women and Girls

1. Rise in gender-based violence: Armed conflicts significantly increase gender-based violence, including arbitrary killings, torture, sexual violence, and forced marriages.

2.Sexual violence as a deliberate tactic: Sexual violence is often used systematically during conflicts. Women and girls are the primary victims, although men and boys can also face sexual violence, especially in detention contexts.

3. Breakdown of rule of law and social structures: Post-conflict societies often face increased violence because law enforcement weakens and weapons circulate widely. This situation normalizes violence and deepens discrimination.
4. Trafficking and exploitation during conflicts: The collapse of political and economic systems increases trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced labour, particularly affecting women and girls.
5. Disruption of essential services: Conflicts disrupt health care, education, and social support systems, which has a severe and disproportionate impact on women and girls.
6. Barriers to education for girls: Fear of attacks and security threats prevent many girls from attending school. Many also assume caregiving responsibilities during crises.
7. Health risks and reproductive challenges: Disruption of sexual and reproductive health services increases risks of maternal mortality, severe injuries, unplanned pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.
8. Economic insecurity and loss of livelihood: Women often lose employment opportunities, land, and productive assets during conflicts. Many must find alternative sources of livelihood to support their families.
9. Gender dimensions of internal displacement: Internally displaced women often lose housing, land, and livestock. Lack of property titles further weakens their economic security.
10. Increased risks for displaced women: Internally displaced women face sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced recruitment, labour exploitation, and lack of reproductive health services.

11.Exclusion from decision-making: Women and girls in displacement settings are often excluded from decisions related to relief distribution and community governance.

International Frameworks for Protecting Women in Conflict

1. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) :

• Foundation of the framework: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000, forming the central international framework on Women, Peace and Security, which calls for protecting women during conflicts and ensuring their active participation in peacebuilding and decision-making.
• Core framework principles of Resolution 1325: The framework emphasises women’s participation in peace processes, gender perspectives in peacekeeping training, and gender mainstreaming in UN peace and security reporting systems.

2. Strengthening the framework through later resolutions:

• Resolution 1820 (2008): Addressed sexual violence in conflict.
• Resolutions 1888, 1889, 1960: Created institutional mechanisms such as the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Women’s Protection Advisers, and monitoring systems.
• Resolution 2242 (2015): Linked sexual violence with terrorism.
• Resolution 2331 (2016): Highlighted links between trafficking, sexual violence, and organised crime.
• Resolution 2467 (2019): Promoted a survivor-centred approach and called for survivor support funds.

3. Additionally, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) provides the human rights foundation for the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

What Should Be Done

1. Equal participation in peace negotiations: Women must be included in peace talks, conflict prevention, and reconstruction processes because their participation makes peace agreements more durable.
2. Stronger action by women’s collectives and global institutions: Women’s organisations and international bodies should focus on concrete action rather than limiting efforts to conferences and slogans.
3. Protection from violence and exploitation: Women and children in conflict zones require stronger protection from sexual violence, trafficking, and exploitation.
4. Ensuring access to essential services: Providing food, health care, education, financial assistance, and emotional support is necessary to protect the rights and dignity of women affected by conflict.
5. Recognising women as active peacebuilders: Women have historically acted as civil society leaders, human rights defenders, and participants in peacebuilding processes.
6. Using post-conflict recovery as an opportunity for reform: Post-conflict reconstruction can transform social structures and norms, creating opportunities to strengthen women’s human rights.

Conclusion

Protecting women’s rights in conflict situations remains a critical global challenge. Wars intensify violence, displacement, and inequality for women and girls. Despite strong international frameworks, implementation gaps persist. Ensuring women’s meaningful participation in peace processes and strengthening protection mechanisms are essential for achieving justice, equality, and lasting peace in conflict-affected societies.

Question for practice:

Discuss how global conflicts and instability affect women’s rights and living conditions, and examine the international frameworks and measures needed to protect women in conflict situations.

Source: The Hindu