UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has warned that violence against women and girls continues to be fuelled by war, militarisation and entrenched inequality, urging governments to move beyond condemnation and take decisive action. Speaking at a high-level meeting marking five years of the UN Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, she said conflicts around the world are exposing women and girls to severe and lasting harm. CSW is the United Nations’ principal global body dedicated to promoting gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women. In Sudan, UN experts have reported widespread sexual violence and attacks on women human rights defenders. Mohammed stressed that women must be central to peace processes and political decision-making, warning that lasting peace cannot be achieved while women and girls remain excluded and unprotected.

Source: Punch March 13, 2026 09:28 UTC