A report on violence against women in times of armed conflict

We thought it was absolutely necessary to have more in-depth training in gender studies, especially as a complement to a Master's in Public Policy or International Affairs, as these issues are significant to us. We were already extremely interested in gender inequality issues, and the Certificate was an opportunity for us to learn more about these challenges.

Through the Certificate, we were able to engage with inspiring women while deepening our understanding of practical challenges, particularly in implementing public policies to reduce gender inequalities or in feminist diplomacy. This experience is invaluable for anyone wishing to become more aware of these highly important and relevant issues.

We chose to focus on this topic because it is both a systemic and devastating phenomenon that continues to affect generations of women and has serious consequences for subsequent peace processes.

Gender-based violence in war situations is often used as a weapon of war, aiming not only to destroy individual lives but also to destabilise entire societies. Unfortunately, this violence is generally minimised or even ignored in the traditional analysis of conflicts. However, it has lasting repercussions, not only on the direct victims but also on their communities and the restoration of peace.

Having been made aware of the systemic nature of this violence through our social science studies, the idea of writing a report documenting and analysing this under-researched subject greatly appealed to us. The scale of the problem and its absence from public debates and peace negotiations were real motivators for this project.

We focused our report on documenting and analysing the mechanisms by which sexual and gender-based violence are instrumentalised in conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as the ways to support the victims. Our work aimed not only to raise awareness but also to propose solutions and encourage a shift in public policies and international justice.

The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, founded in 2005, brings together influential women to promote the contribution of women in global economy and politics, alongside the still very male-dominated Davos forum. Affiliated with the multinational group Publicis, it advocates on various gender inequality issues, particularly in the economic sector. To do so, it publishes high-profile reports and organises annual Forums, including the Global Meeting in Paris, to promote gender parity and female representation in power spheres. These events particularly highlight projects supporting female entrepreneurship, education, and the visibility of women in the media.

After 7 October 7, this organisation expanded its focus and decided to highlight a neglected issue: violence against women in armed conflicts. The Women’s Forum provides a significant platform for issues that deserve more media visibility. This first initiative on the topic emphasises its importance and urgency, which could attract crucial funding that is usually hard to obtain for this cause, which is often only highlighted by NGOs like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch.

In our report, we attempted to demonstrate that violence against women in conflict is part of a continuum of violence. The idea was to highlight the link between violence in "peace" times and that in "war" times. Thus, while it seems that all taboos are broken during war and that the specificity of the crimes committed requires a particular approach to addressing them, we can still trace their roots back to the patriarchal system of domination. We were led to examine the predominant role of the military institution, both when violence is committed and when it is addressed.

There needs to be a reform of the military institution to rethink the system of domination it is based upon. It is thus necessary for the international community to take these issues seriously, including by providing real funding to all field actors, such as NGOs and institutional players. More generally, violence against women in conflict should be better addressed by all relevant actors and legal systems (both local and international law).

We indeed presented our report during the plenary session of the October 2024 Global Meeting, which took place at the Maison de la Chimie in Paris. The audience, mostly from the private sector, was not necessarily sensitised to women’s security issues in conflict situations, which posed a real challenge in capturing their attention and interest. To achieve this, we opted for an impactful speech, which was very well received.

The feedback was numerous and positive: several participants expressed a desire to read the report and to deepen their understanding of this issue. This feedback confirmed that our intervention not only delivered the intended message but also sparked increased interest in women’s security issues. Furthermore, the presence of Afghan speakers enriched the debate by providing first-hand testimony about the situation of women in conflict zones, offering the audience a broader perspective.

From this work, we have learned the critical importance of raising awareness and bringing issues that are often intentionally or unintentionally neglected, like violence against women in conflict, to the attention of economic and political actors. What we do not talk about and study risks remaining unchanged or even worsening.

Working on this report allowed us, at our level, to contribute to the awareness and study of these issues. Every day spent writing this report reinforced our awareness of the systemic nature of this violence and its lasting impact, not only on the victims but also on societies as a whole. This project also taught us the importance of collaborating with partners from diverse backgrounds to advance causes that affect us all.

Finally, working with an influential organisation like the Women’s Forum allowed us to give our subject major visibility. This confirmed that effective advocacy actions, supported by solid data and testimonies, can play a role in changing mindsets and public policies.