Statement on the crisis in the Middle East region

Women for Women International is a global non-partisan organisation. We do not take sides in any conflict, nor do we comment on the political positions of any party involved. Our mandate is singular and unwavering: to support and protect women living through the trauma of war, displacement, and insecurity wherever they are, and regardless of who controls the territory around them. 

In moments of escalating violence, women’s voices are often the first to be silenced. The sounds of bombs, drones, and missiles drown out their stories, their needs, and their rights. Yet it is women and children who bear the heaviest burdens of conflict through loss of family members, disruption of livelihoods, heightened exposure to violence, and the collapse of essential services. 

As the violence in the Middle East escalates, we are deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian risks facing women and their families. We call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, under which all civilians must be protected and are ensured safe and timely access to humanitarian aid.  Safe access to food, water, medical care, and shelter must be guaranteed, and humanitarian actors must be allowed to operate without obstruction. 

As an organisation working with women survivors in conflict-affected regions for over thirty years, we hold tightly to the principle of serving those who need our support the most and will continue to advocate for their protection. We stand with the women whose lives are being upended, whose futures are uncertain, and whose voices must be heard.  

Our work and our advocacy will remain focused on ensuring that women not only survive conflicts, but also have the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope.