On Tuesday, October 27, the United Nations Security Council will discuss the situation of women and girls in conflict-affected areas, including Afghanistan, during its annual meeting on "Women, Peace, and Security." The session will take place at the UN headquarters in New York.
This year's meeting is titled "Women, Peace, and Security in the Next Quarter Century: Fulfilling Promises Through Implementation." It will be chaired by George Gerapetritis, the Foreign Minister of Greece. This theme highlights the international community's focus on translating past commitments into concrete actions to protect women's rights.
According to a UN announcement, speakers are expected to include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, and a civil society representative from Afghanistan. The presence of an Afghan civil society representative provides an opportunity to hear directly from the women of the country.
A UN press release stated that key topics will include the rise in conflict-related sexual violence, the targeting of women activists, female journalists, and human rights defenders, and the decline in financial support for women's organizations in conflict zones. These challenges are particularly acute in many countries, especially Afghanistan.
In addition to Afghanistan, the meeting will also examine the situation of women and girls in other regions such as Gaza, Haiti, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen. This comparative approach may help in finding more comprehensive solutions.
According to the UN Secretary-General's annual report, women's participation in peace processes remains alarmingly low. In 2025, women constituted only five percent of negotiators in 57 peace processes, a decrease from seven percent in 2024. This worrying statistic underscores the urgent need for action to ensure women's meaningful participation in political decision-making.
The report also reveals that the number of women and girls living within 50 kilometers of armed conflict has increased from 676 million in 2024 to 756.1 million in 2025. This indicates the widening circle of insecurity and risk for women worldwide.
Source: UN News Release
🌐
