“It is now more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in modern wars.”  Major General Cammaert, Deputy Force Commander, MONUC.

Children and conflict

It is estimated that close to 90 per cent of current war casualties are civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, compared to a century ago when 90 per cent of those who lost their lives were military personnel. Although entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, women and girls are particularly affected because of their status in society and their sex.

Parties in conflict situations often rape women, sometimes using systematic rape as a tactic of war. Other forms of violence against women and girls committed in armed conflict include murder, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and forced sterilization. 

The growing number of armed conflicts and the violations associated with them have resulted in an increase in forced internal displacement and refugee flows. More than 75 per cent of displaced people are women and children, and in some refugee populations they constitute 90%

Despite this, women should not be viewed solely as victims of war. They assume the key role of ensuring family livelihood in the midst of chaos and destruction, and are particularly active in the peace movement at the grassroots level, cultivating peace within their communities. However, the absence of women at the peace negotiating table is undeniable. 

All rural people suffer during emergencies, but men and women are affected in different ways. Emergencies arising from natural disasters, drought, diseases, civil conflict, market shocks and extreme climate events often have their greatest impact on poor rural populations. Specific threats to women must be identified and stopped, and women women and girls must be at the centre of peace talks and post-conflict reconstruction

Rape as a weapon of war

Sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war against  civilian women and children. Survivors are at high risk of severe and long-lasting health problems. Consequences include unwanted pregnancy, unsafe self-induced abortion, infanticide, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. 

UN resolution 1325

After much campaiging and lobbying, the international community has responded and now rape in times of conflict is recognised as a crime against humanity (1998).
 In October 2000, the UN Security  Council made a historic decision when it passed Resolution 1325. 

Questions to consider:

Is your country engaged in conflict?
Which Human Rights violations occur in your country and your region?
What have the impacts been on women and girls during and after conflict?
Does your country have legislation (law) that protects the rights of women? Is it enforceable and effective during and after conflict?
Are the rights of women, girls, refugees and IDPs sufficiently protected?

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/followup/session/presskit/fs5.htm 
http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Impact_final.pdf (Africa)
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/women_and_armed_conflict_3005.htm 
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/women/
http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2010/EN_SOWP10.pdf