News & Analysis Institute News

Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker: June Updates

  • GIWPS

Our Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker combines real-time data points and original analysis to offer gender-sensitive insight into conflict dynamics across 27 countries. To see the complete analysis across all 27 countries monitored, please visit the WPS Conflict Tracker website and explore by country.

Spotlight: Colombia Presidential Election

After record-breaking voter turnout, Colombia has elected Abelardo “El Tigre” De La Espriella to be its next president. The initial ballot count has right-wing De La Espriella narrowly defeating left-wing Iván Cepeda in one of the closest elections in the country’s history. 

The election occurred in a context of polarization and escalating armed-group violence, with voters facing a choice between two competing visions for the future of peace and security. De La Espriella’s campaign emphasized a hardline approach to security and a promise to aggressively crack down on organized crime, and his victory is reflective of a rightward shift across Latin America.

The president-elect—who was endorsed by US President Donald Trump—ran a campaign that featured misogynistic and sexist rhetoric. Earlier this month, a judge ruled that his statements about women voters and harassment of a female journalist constituted “political violence based on gender.” Though narrow, his victory raises concerns about respect for women’s rights, including implementation of the gender provisions outlined in the 2016 Peace Agreementand the central role that women’s organizations have played in peacebuilding efforts in Colombia.

Hear from Colombian women leaders about what the election means for Colombia’s implementation of inclusive peacebuilding efforts and climate leadership.

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 27 conflict-affected settings we monitor. Updates for June 2026 include: 

Afghanistan

  • UNAMA Renewed Amid Crackdown on Women’s Rights: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was unanimously renewed until June 17, 2027, amid intensified Taliban crackdowns on women’s rights, including the violent dispersal of peaceful protests in Herat and arrests of Afghan women for allegedly violating the Taliban’s strict dress and mobility codes.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Women and Girls More Likely to Contract and Die of Ebola: As Ebola spreads across conflict-affected regions of the DRC and neighboring countries, women and girls are at heightened risk of exposure and death due to the gendered nature of caregiving responsibilities. As in prior outbreaks, women and girls reportedly account for the majority of confirmed cases. The fatality rate for pregnant women is estimated to be 80 percent, and fear of the virus is deterring women from seeking maternal health care. 

Iran

  • Women Seemingly Absent from US-Iran Talks Amid Intensifying Crackdown: Ongoing US-Iran negotiations have created an opening for de-escalation, but women appear largely absent from the process. At the same time, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on dissent, with mass arrests and violence against women defying strict hijab laws.
  • Hear from women in the Gulf about how the US-Iran MOU reflects a shift in the mediation landscape, with middle powers taking the lead in facilitating talks. 

Israel & Palestine

Lebanon

  • Fragility in Lebanon and Deepening Gendered Harm: Israel’s military activity in Lebanon remains at the center of efforts to secure a cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran. Israeli strikes have caused widespread civilian casualties and the displacement of over 1.1 million people—including an estimated 620,000 women and girls. Widespread damage to critical infrastructure deepens gendered harms and risks, undermining safe return.

Sudan 

  • Risk of Mass Atrocities: The UN Security Council is warning of an imminent risk of mass atrocities in El Obeid, as drone attacks endanger civilians and disrupt access to critical services, including healthcare, water, and electricity. The escalating conflict is exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis and increasing risks for vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls. 

Ukraine

  • Ukraine Recovery Conference to Convene in Gdańsk: The 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland convenes international partners to advance reconstruction, investment, and recovery planning, with an opportunity to center women’s needs amid continued conflict risks.
  • Hear a report from the URC: “The energy, intention and commitment of those attending could be felt in the air. There is no question that a successful recovery of Ukraine must be inclusive and enable all members of Ukrainian society…The remarkable women of Ukraine inspire,” said Natalie Jaresko, GIWPS Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow and former Minister of Finance of Ukraine.

In the Arts

Through Her Eyes is a photography exhibition featuring Ukrainian women soldiers whose images document everyday life amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, bringing frontline experiences into public view through intimate, self-authored visual storytelling. Shown in New York City, the exhibit highlights how these women use photography to process war, assert agency, and shift narratives about who gets to represent conflict and resilience.

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