Today is International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, a day to recognize the devastating toll conflict can have on women and girls and to condemn all acts of gender-based and sexual violence. Conflict around the world puts increasing numbers of people at risk, particularly women and girls who face greater rates of rape, forced marriage, and exploitation as the rule of law breaks down. 

In Sudan, for example, sexual violence, gang rape, and sexual slavery have been used as weapons in the now two-year-long civil war. Evidence suggests that marginalized groups are being systematically subjected to gender-based violence. In November 2023, the United Nations (UN) reported that women and girls were being abducted, forced into marriage, held for ransom, and held in slave-like conditions.

The UN Security Council has stressed “the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and in post-conflict reconstruction.” Gender equality is the number one predictor of peace and stability – more so than a country’s wealth, level of democracy, or religious identity. Removing sex-discriminatory laws is, therefore, a critical step in limiting global conflict over the long term.

In post-conflict situations, the World Bank estimates that including women in peace processes increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting more than 15 years by 35%. Yet in the past 30 years, women comprised only 13% of negotiators and 6% of mediators in major peace processes. That’s why Equality Now is vocalizing the need for an inclusive, women-led peace process in conflicts worldwide. 

Our work to upend sex and gender-discriminatory laws is also a promise of hope in difficult times. Last year, we helped change 14 discriminatory laws in 12 countries, making a difference in the lives of 39.2 million women and girls worldwide.

By supporting our work, you help remove barriers to women’s leadership and equal participation in public and political life; ensure that more women and girls have access to education and economic opportunities; and better protect women and girls from sexual violence, exploitation, and harmful practices.

We appreciate your help thus far, but there’s more to do. This is especially true as authoritarian regimes rise and quash or revert efforts for justice and equality. Please send your most generous gift today and help us overturn even more sex and gender-discriminatory laws in 2024. Thank you.

P.S. We rely on people like you to make our work possible. If you have not yet contributed this year, please do so today to help improve the lives of women and girls for generations to come.