By Mariama Bah
Global conflicts are exacting a devastating toll, and for women and girls, this human cost is escalating at an alarming rate. Abuse and sexual violence towards women and girls have been used as tactics of war, forms of torture, political repression and social control for centuries. In conflicts around the world, the systematic raping of women and girls is employed as a strategy to terrorize populations, shatter communities, and achieve military objectives—a clear weaponization of gender inequality. Disturbingly, this deliberate cruelty is increasingly amplified by the digital age. The tools of the internet are repurposed to stalk, harass, and intimidate, extending the reach of abuse beyond the physical frontlines and creating new avenues for perpetrators to enact harm prior to, throughout, and subsequent to a crisis. This post will delve into this complex, lethal intersection of the brutal reality of sexual violence in war, spotlighting specific crises, and how the digital realm is compounding the global violence and wars’ impact on women and girls.
Women account for four out of every ten people who die as a result of conflict and in recent years conflict-related sexual violence have increased by 50 percent, according to UN-verified cases. Between 2022 and 2024, over 185 conflicts were recorded with over 676 million women and girls living within 50 kilometers, resulting in a record high numbers of violence and sexual violence marking an increase of 87% (UN WOMEN). Global conflict significantly impacts women and girls, forcibly displacing over 60 million Healthcare systems, hospitals, and health centres have also collapsed in many of these conflict countries with over 15 countries declaring humanitarian emergencies. Millions of women are being deprived of basic medical needs, life-changing services, sexual and reproductive health care. This is especially concerning considering that these are the times of rapidly increasingly rates of sexual violence and physical abuse, yet there is no care for them. This also coincides with the the alarming unprecedented levels of food insecurity, In 2024, The GLobal Network Against Food Crisis found that 10.9 million pregnant and breastfeeding women faced acute malnutrition in 21 countries with nutrition crises; a third of them were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Sudan each had over 1 million. The alarming convergence of violence, displacement, systemic neglect of healthcare, and acute malnutrition collectively presents an unconscionable and rapidly deepening humanitarian catastrophe for women and girls globally.
Technology facilitated Gender-Based Violence
Technology facilitated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) during conflicts takes many forms beyond direct attacks on women, including taking women as hostages to build military drones and weapons. In 2025, victims came forward with stories of being misled with incredible job opportunities that turned out to be military-tech factory work which had horrible living and working conditions, little pay, threats, and some had no ability to leave.
BBC’s Africa Correspondent, Mayeni Jones, interviewed Adau, a 23-year-old woman from South Sudan about being recruited to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia through the Alabuga Start program[4]. Alabuga promised professional training in fields like logistics and tower-crane operation, however, upon arrival Adau was forced to work in a drone factory producing Iranian Shahed 136 drones for Russia’s war effort. Adau, who signed up believing the promises of technical work and discounted allegations as anti-Russian propaganda, experienced harsh conditions, including working with chemicals that caused her skin to peel, and was one of the victims of a Ukrainian drone strike in the workers’ hostel. She ultimately resigned, feeling devastated about “constructing something that is taking so many lives,” and fortunately Adau’s family was able to buy and send her a ticket to go home. Many others struggled due to the program’s pay structure, which deducted heavily from the promised $600 per month salary and confiscating their passports, leaving many women financially unable to afford a return ticket home. Unfortunately, Alabuga Start Programme continues to function, specifically targeting African women with an estimate of over 1,000 recruits, through social media and educational sites. South Africa’s government is currently investigating Alabuga for recruiting African Women to work in their weapons factories and for having influencers promote the program, which has also been an accusation of promoting human trafficking. There are countless similar experiences of women being lured in with job opportunities that turn into devastating periods of their lives. Technology has made it easier to connect with people all over the world, specifically parts with limited technology and access to certain information, such as Adau, who had no idea of the truth behind the Alabuga Start program and Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
CAREA 2024 reported media coverage of conflicts has increased more than six-fold since 2013, however, there is only 5 percent of articles focused on women’s experiences in war and only 0.04 percent highlighted women’s contribution as leaders in peace processes [1]. Women and the impact of war and global conflict are often ignored, not reported on, and are not provided any aid or support, despite being the most affected in the most various ways for the longest period of time. In the face of relentless global conflict, from the devastating physical trauma of rape and sexual violence to the systemic failures of aid and the evolving threats of technological exploitation, the profound uncertainty facing women and girls demands an immediate, radical, and equitable global commitment to their protection and empowerment.
