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Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker: September Updates

September 22, 2025

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Our Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker combines real-time data points and original analysis to offer gender-sensitive insight into conflict dynamics across 25 countries. The WPS Conflict Tracker is updated monthly to reflect developments for women’s participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. This blog highlights select updates. To see the complete analysis across all 25 countries monitored, please visit the WPS Conflict Tracker website.

Spotlight: UN Finds Genocide Committed in Gaza 

On September 16, 2025, the UN released a comprehensive report concluding that Israeli authorities and security forces are committing genocide in Gaza. As part of this finding, UN investigators document deliberate abuses impacting women and girls, including targeted attacks on evacuation routes and so-called safe zones. Of the more than 60,000 Gazans killed as a direct result of the conflict, over 28,000 were women and children. However, this number excludes deaths from malnutrition and lack of healthcare—crises that disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. 

The report finds Israeli strikes on health facilities providing maternal and reproductive care have inflicted unprecedented physical and psychological harm to Palestinian women and girls, impacting 545,000 women and girls of reproductive age. Miscarriage rates have surged by 300 percent since October 2023, driven by displacement, famine, and lack of medical care. The report further details systematic sexual harassment and humiliation of Palestinian women by Israeli forces, both in public spaces and detention sites. These violations strip survivors of dignity while the widespread destruction of healthcare and support services compounds their trauma. As oftentimes the primary caregivers, Palestinian women bear the impossible burden of feeding and protecting their families amid relentless bombardment and repeated displacement. The Israeli government has rejected the report’s findings. 

EXCLUSIVE REPORTING: Zan Times on the Earthquake in Afghanistan

Guest authored by Zahra Nader

The 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on the night of August 31 killed more than 2,200 people and injured over 3,600. In Kunar province, more than 5,700 homes were destroyed, with Nurgal district—the epicenter—recording 1,000 dead and 2,500 injured.

At Zan Times, an Afghan women-led media outlet in exile, we immediately began reporting with journalists on the ground, focusing on the situation of women survivors. Speaking with survivors, we learned that women were disproportionately affected, even in the early hours of the disaster. Many did not die in the initial tremors but [did so] afterwards, trapped under rubble, unable to receive help: either male rescuers refused to assist women or cultural norms in Kunar prevented women from seeking or accepting help from unrelated men. Survivors told us that injured women often refused treatment from male doctors, waiting instead for female medical staff—few in number and slow to reach remote areas, if at all.

In Kunar, women already carry heavy household and agricultural responsibilities yet remain excluded from public life. Healthcare access was extremely limited before the quake: clinics are scarce, roads collapsed during the disaster, and the nearest hospitals often required hours of walking. During the first week after the earthquake, many villages still had no access to medical care, food, or sanitation.

These challenges are compounded by existing restrictions, mostly those imposed by the Taliban. On September 10, female UN staff were barred from entering compounds in Kabul, forcing UNHCR to suspend registration and cash assistance at Afghanistan’s borders because they “cannot work without female workers in certain circumstances.” This earthquake has revealed how cultural norms and Taliban policies converge to deny women life-saving assistance, making their survival even more precarious in its aftermath.

To receive further updates from Zan Times, you can sign up for their free weekly newsletter. 

Risks & Opportunities

The WPS Conflict Tracker analyzes and identifies current risks and opportunities—including new developments, upcoming events, or looming threats—for women in the 25 conflict-affected settings we monitor. Updates for September 2025 include:  

Central African Republic (CAR) 

• Ratification of the Maputo Protocol: On August 26, 2025, the CAR ratified the Maputo Protocol, a landmark regional treaty on women’s rights. This adoption signals greater political commitment to addressing pervasive gender-based violence and harmful practices, such as gender mutilation. If implemented, the Protocol could strengthen women’s security, enhance their status within communities, and align the CAR’s national framework more closely with WPS commitments. 

Colombia 

• Decertification May Exacerbate Conflict: Colombia was decertified by the US as a drug control partner on September 15, 2025; this move may push the Colombian government to implement a stricter and more militarized response to coca production in order to demonstrate their cooperation, exposing women and girls in coca-producing areas to further violence, economic deprivation, and harsh sanctions. 

Haiti 

• “Least Funded Humanitarian Appeal”: Haiti was deemed “the least funded humanitarian appeal in the world,” by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on August 28, 2025. Of the $908 million needed for UN humanitarian assistance in Haiti, only 8 percent has been funded. This shortfall has especially dire effects on women and girls, who have been overrepresented among those facing acute food insecurity and displacement. 
• Potential New International Security Force: On August 29, 2025 the UN Security Council began discussing a US-led draft resolution to transition the Multinational Security Support mission into a new Gang Suppression Force. Analysts remind of past sexual abuse by peacekeepers; without strong oversight, women and girls could face further harm rather than protection. 

Iran

• Escalating State Repression: Since the June 2025 conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities have arrested over 20,000 people under sweeping national security charges. These crackdowns endanger women and girls, especially those linked to minority communities or civic activism, further shrinking space for protection and accountability. Baha’i, Christian, and Jewish Iranians, for instance, have been surveilled, harassed, and arrested after being accused of espionage without evidence.  
• Renewed Pledges for Woman, Life, Freedom: September 16, 2025 marks three years since the death of Mahsa Jina Amini sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Despite intensifying state security provisions and mass arrests, 24 Iranian groups have renewed pledges to continue the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. In their statement, the organizations demanded the end to gender apartheid, secure public welfare, and political, social, and cultural freedom.  

Iraq

• First Women’s Political Party Facing Barriers: Iraqi women politicians and activists have launched the first women’s political party in the nation’s history, which seeks to aid women candidates and unite Iraqi women ahead of elections. However, the party faced two years of bureaucratic delays, resulting in exclusion from the ballot in the upcoming November 2025 parliamentary elections.

Lebanon

• Proposal to Disarm Hezbollah: On September 5, 2025, Lebanon’s cabinet brought forth a plan to disarm Hezbollah, though no clear timeline was provided. Hezbollah strongly opposed the plan, and five Shi’ite cabinet ministers walked out of the session in protest. This political fracture may worsen insecurity, especially for the 900,000 people already displaced by conflict with Israel—69 percent of whom are women and children. 

Libya

• Inclusion of Women in UN Roadmap: Following a virtual dialogue with Libyan women, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) presented a political roadmap on August 21, 2025, promoting an inclusive and secure electoral process. This roadmap includes a structured dialogue designed to engage Libyan society broadly, with explicit mention of youth and women’s participation. In parallel, the Security Council has further called for the inclusion of women in these political processes. 

Mozambique 

• Women Leading Peace and Recovery Processes: The newly launched She Leads Peace initiative (2025-2027) will support women and girls in Mozambique’s conflict-affected provinces with leadership training, legal and psychosocial support, and economic grants, enabling them to play a central role in community recovery and resilience. This effort, supported by Norway and UN Women, offers pathways to strengthen women’s voices in peace, governance, and economic settings amidst continued conflict in the Cabo Delgado region. 

Myanmar

• Elections as a Tool for Consolidation: Myanmar’s military regime is planning to move ahead with national elections as scheduled for December 28, 2025, even as an estimated one in seven parliamentary constituencies—namely conflict-affected areas where the junta lacks control—are set to be excluded from voting. A letter issued by 315 civil society organizations, including global and Myanmar-based women’s rights groups, urged ASEAN to reject the 2025 election in light of its repressive nature.  
• Upcoming UN Conference on Rohingya: The upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar, scheduled for September 30, 2025, offers an opportunity to highlight ongoing atrocities and advance accountability.

Nigeria

• Men’s Summit on Gender-Based Violence: In September 2025, YouthHubAfrica hosted the fourth edition of the Men’s Summit, uniting men across Nigeria to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and advance gender equality. Civil society, policymakers, and youth leaders joined workshops, sessions, and panels on prevention, accountability, and allyship—strengthening a national network of male advocates committed to ending GBV. 

South Sudan

• Corruption Undermines Service Provision: A September 2025 UN report found that corruption prevented funds—including from oil revenue—from supporting food security, healthcare, sanitation, and other lifesaving purposes, fueling a human rights crisis in South Sudan. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, as scarce resources hinder gender equality commitments and access to sexual and reproductive care.  

Sudan

• Women Farmers Especially Harmed: Sudanese women farmers are disproportionately impacted by insecurity, limited financing, and pre-existing structural discrimination, undermining household and national food security. Women are increasingly responsible for farming as men leave for other employment or stay inside to avoid association with armed groups. Their work is even more vital as Sudan remains gripped by famine. 
• Widespread Sexual Violence: A September 2025 UN monitoring report documented widespread sexual violence, forced marriage, forced nudity, and the alleged trafficking and sale of women and girls by combatants. Reporting emphasized the racial and ethnic dimensions of sexual violence committed by the RSF, and that violations by SAF are likely under-reported due to fear of retaliation and perceived sympathy in some communities. 

Syria

• Syrian Elections: The first elections under al-Sharaa’s new government, scheduled for October 5, present an opportunity for millions to participate in the political process but raise concerns that the election will not equally represent women and minorities. A non-binding 20 percent quota of seats for women exists, yet female candidates may struggle to compete in elections due to small electoral districts and few seats. One-third of parliament will be presidential appointees, with the rest chosen by government-formed local bodies.

Ukraine

• Spike in Russian Attacks Heightens Civilian Vulnerability: On September 9, 2025, a Russian glide bomb strike in Yarova, Donetsk region, killed at least 24 civilians, predominantly elderly individuals, and injured 19 others. This attack follows a series of deadly Russian assaults, including the largest aerial bombardment of the war on September 7, which targeted Kyiv’s main government building. These escalations exacerbate the risks for women and girls in conflict zones, particularly in areas lacking adequate protection and support services.

Yemen

• Airstrikes Magnify Humanitarian Need: Israeli strikes on Yemen, including Hudaydah Port—a key aid hub for 9.6 million women and girls—have deepened displacement and restricted relief. At least 2.3 million women and girls have fled their homes, with women heading more than one-quarter of recently displaced households.
• Funding Cuts Obliterate Reproductive Healthcare: Funding cuts to UNFPA forced at least 44 health facilities and 14 mobile reproductive care clinics to close, while a reduction of training programs leaves an estimated 600,000 women projected to give birth without midwife support. Conflict damage and displacement further restrict already scarce reproductive care.

In The News 

Factsheet: Artificial Intelligence and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by UNIDIR 

A recent UNIDIR report explores the dual role of artificial intelligence in advancing and potentially hindering the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. While AI can support educational and training programs for women and girls, provide digital tools that amplify the work of grassroots organizations, and assist in mediation and negotiation through simulations, it also presents risks. Challenges include biased data leading to the invisibility of certain groups and the potential misuse of AI in conflict settings. The report calls for ethical AI development and implementation to ensure it serves as a tool for inclusive peacebuilding.

Southeast Asian Countries Give Priority to Women and Peace Agenda in Vision for 2045 by ASEAN WPS

This article reports on the 2025 ASEAN Women, Peace and Security Summit held on September 9-10 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This summit marked a significant milestone in Southeast Asia’s commitment to integrating gender perspectives into peace and security frameworks. Hosted under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship and supported by UN Women and dialogue partners including Canada, Australia, and the UK, the summit focused on enhancing the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on WPS. Key outcomes included the launch of Malaysia’s first National Action Plan on WPS for 2025–2030 and the establishment of the ASEAN WPS Community of Practice. Discussions also addressed emerging challenges such as climate change and digital security, emphasizing the need for women’s leadership in conflict prevention and resilience-building efforts across the region.

In the Arts 

Sanctuary :: መቅደስ :: Mekdes, on display at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. 

Tsedaye Makonnen, an Ethiopian-American artist, continues to showcase her exhibition Sanctuary :: መቅደስ :: Mekdes, which highlights the experiences of women and femme people impacted by violence. The seven featured sculptures include the names of 54 people impacted by violence, 46 of whom died “in tragic circumstances connected to violent and dehumanizing ideas.” In so doing, her work seeks to convey hope and solidarity. 

The Pearls Project, as featured in Vogue Philippines 

The Pearls Project, conceived by Filipino artist Archie Geotina, has become a global movement celebrating women’s leadership and cultural identity through surfing. The project features women surfing in heritage and cultural clothing, conveying their power, unique stories, and shared connection to the ocean. This project has since expanded internationally to showcase female surfers from Indonesia, Thailand, China, South Korea, Mexico, and India. In addition to being subjects, women also photographed and directed shoots; Marie Cabel juggled roles both in front of and behind the camera, all while being seven months pregnant. She reflected how “this project beautifully demonstrates that surfing is for everyone, regardless of age or life stage, and can be a source of empowerment and strength for women.”