The United Nations verified 9,788 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2025, as conflict killed more than 37,000 civilians and women and girls accounted for a larger share of those deaths than in 2021.
The verified total appears in the secretary-general’s 2026 report on conflict-related sexual violence, S/2026/321. It was more than twice the 2024 count and nearly four times the 2022 figure. The report cautions that verified cases do not capture the full scale of sexual violence.
A separate secretary-general’s report on women, peace and security, S/2026/758, puts civilian deaths above 37,000 for 2025. Women and girls represented 25% of those killed, a proportion twice the 2021 level.
In remarks reported by Anadolu, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women’s deputy executive director for normative support, UN system coordination and programme results, said at least 25 women and girls are killed each day in conflict settings. She also cited more than 750 million women and girls living within 50 kilometers of armed conflict.
Sarah Hendriks, director of UN Women’s Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division, pointed to more than 185 conflicts recorded worldwide in 2025, including 65 state-based conflicts. Anadolu reported that Hendriks warned that the spread of conflict was worsening conditions for women and girls.
Gumbonzvanda urged governments to strengthen civilian protection and accountability under international law. She also called for women to have a role in peace negotiations and for increased support for women-led organizations.
Separately, the British government announced sanctions on 15 Sudanese commanders and officials over alleged wartime abuses, alongside a £15 million support package that includes £5 million for survivors of sexual violence. The measures are detailed in EconoTimes’ report on Britain’s sanctions and support for Sudanese survivors.
