Michigan- On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the American Center for Justice (ACJ) stated that systematic violations against women remain among the most severe forms of human rights abuses, particularly in countries experiencing crises and armed conflicts. Recent statistics indicate that approximately 736 million women worldwide, equivalent to one in every three women, have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
On this international day, ACJ expresses deep concern over the alarming rise in multiple forms of violations faced by women in conflict zones, including Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan. These violations include killing, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, and denial of basic fundamental rights.
In the Palestinian territories, the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 has resulted in massive numbers of women and girls killed. According to UN Women estimates published on 19 May 2025, more than 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the military operations. Reflecting the scale of the catastrophe, data from the Gaza Ministry of Health and subsequent media statistics report even higher figures, with total deaths surpassing 60,000 by the end of July 2025. An independent preliminary survey further estimated that deaths could have reached around 84,000 between October 2023 and early January 2025 Additionally, women in Gaza face an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with 78% of pregnant women deprived of healthcare services amid acute medicine shortages and hospital destruction, putting them at risk of severe complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
In Lebanon, the Israeli assault since October 2023 has resulted in a dangerous escalation in violations against Lebanese women. Reports from human rights organizations and official health authorities document thousands of deaths due to hostilities between October 2023 and the end of November 2024. According to the Human Rights Watch World Report 2025, citing figures from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 3,961 people were killed by Israeli strikes up to the ceasefire on 27 November 2024, including 736 women. Reports from the World Health Organization also highlight devastating impacts on the healthcare system, with high mortality rates resulting from attacks on medical facilities during the same period; further, underscoring the grave consequences of the conflict on women and civilians at large.
In Yemen, statistics show that women have borne the greatest burden of the decade-long conflict. Hundreds, if not thousands, of violations against women have been documented, including killings, abductions, and injuries caused by landmines. Human rights organizations have reported the detention of “hundreds of women” in secret Houthi-run facilities under “inhumane” conditions, alongside challenges such as deprivation of education and healthcare, and sexual violence. The Houthi group remains the party most responsible for such violations, accounting for 72% of cases recorded in previous reports, while government-aligned forces were responsible for 15%, the Southern Transitional Council for 6%, and other parties for 7%.
Regarding forced displacement, UN and human rights data indicate that the number of internally displaced persons stands at approximately 4.8 million, with reports by the UN Population Fund showing that nearly 80% of these displaced individuals are women and girls living in environments lacking basic protection and healthcare. The reports further indicate that over a quarter (27%) of displaced households are now female-headed—due to loss of providers or family separation during displacement, placing women under immense responsibility amid harsh humanitarian conditions. Yemeni and international rights organizations continue to document persistent violence against women, including abuses during displacement, targeting during detention, as well as prosecutions and harassment in environments lacking minimum standards of justice. These violations constitute blatant breaches of the obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
In Sudan, UN and human rights reports reveal shocking levels of violations committed against women since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. A total of 368 conflict-related sexual violence incidents had been documented by May 2025, involving at least 521 victims, nearly half of which were cases of rape, many targeting displaced women fleeing active fighting. Sudanese official authorities also reported 1,385 rape cases in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces up to mid-2025, including 204 children, reflecting a pattern of sexual violence used as a weapon of intimidation and humiliation. Additional UN reports highlight occurrences of mass rape, sexual slavery, and arbitrary detention of women, violations that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.
The American Center for Justice affirms that it has documented recurring and systematic patterns of targeting women in conflict settings, including oppression, violations of dignity, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and forced displacement—amounting to deliberate policies targeting women as a fundamental pillar of society.
ACJ underscores that these violations constitute a clear and direct breach of the obligations of states and warring parties under international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and international covenants on civil, political, economic, and social rights.
The American Center for Justice calls on the international community and United Nations bodies to intervene urgently to protect women in conflict zones and to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities. It also urges pressure on all parties responsible for violations to immediately cease their repeated abuses.
Furthermore, ACJ stresses the importance of activating international accountability mechanisms to prosecute perpetrators through fair trials, and implementing support and protection programs that include psychological and medical care, as well as reintegration of survivors into society while emphasizing the need to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding and reconstruction processes.
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