"From Asking to Action" Press Release

With just 25% receiving relief and recovery support, women survivors of conflict urge global leaders at UN Summit: "Listen to Us"

[New York, USA] Women who have endured brutal conflicts are delivering a powerful message to world leaders convening for the UN Summit of the Future: their voices must be heard. Insight from ground-breaking new research From Asking to Action, sheds light on the resilience, hope, and urgent needs of over 6,500 women from 14 conflict-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan and Palestine.

Conducted by Women for Women International and its partners, the consultation reveals not only the severe challenges faced by women survivors of war but also their insights and solutions to the problems they face. Despite enormous obstacles—ranging from conflict-related violence to severe economic instability—these women are calling out global leaders for their lack of action on issues of gender equality, peace, and security.

"We need to be part of the solution. We know what we need better than anyone else," says one Ukrainian woman participant of the research.

Remarkably, despite huge challenges, 81% of women surveyed remain optimistic about the future. In Afghanistan, the worst women’s rights crisis in the world, an inspiring 89% of women still anticipate improvements in their lives over the next five years.

Key Findings:

• Access to Aid: Only 25% of women affected by conflict receive essential relief and recovery aid, with this figure plummeting to a mere 10% in Afghanistan.
• Displacement: In Palestine, 73% of women identify displacement from home as their most pressing issue, yet only 18% have received aid.
• Violence: Intimate partner violence is reported by 71% of women across conflict zones as the most prevalent form of violence they experience.
• Gender Equality: 89% of women cited social norms and cultural traditions in their community as restricting opportunities for women, such as discouraging women from speaking out in public.
• Targeted Support: 75% of the women we spoke to called for funding and resources to be increased and 70% of women advocate for aid that is specifically directed towards women and girls, including by involving women in its design and delivery.

The UN Summit of the Future kickstarts a series of significant global milestones including the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda that represent an opportunity to turn commitments on women’s rights into tangible progress.

Women affected by conflict are repeatedly denied their right to participate in decision-making and efforts to include them are too often tokenistic.

Women for Women International will present From Asking to Action in the side-lines of the UN Summit of the Future on September 25th from 8:30-10:00 AM EST at the Georgia Room, 23 Lexington Avenue, New York City.

Amani Mustafa, Country Director, Women for Women International Palestine states: “From Asking to Action ensures that the voices of women affected by conflict are heard loud and clear at the UN Summit and beyond. The findings not only highlight the pressing need for targeted support but also underscore the pivotal role women play in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and recovery. They’ve provided clear recommendations; now it’s our responsibility to act on them.”

In this project, Women for Women International has facilitated a truly participatory consultation, partnering with women’s rights advocates and organizations to spearhead this effort – collaborating with them to co-design the consultation’s scope and tools; and conduct the consultation through surveys, interviews, workshops and focus group discussions. This research demonstrates that – despite the challenges - consultation with women in conflict affected contexts can and should be done – and provides a blueprint for others to build on. For more details, the full findings are available here.

Interviews Available:

Amani Mustafa, Country Director, Women for Women International Palestine

Laurie Adams, CEO, Women for Women International

Stephanie Siddall, Director, Global Policy and Advocacy, Women for Women International

Grace Dorong, Founder and Executive Director, Root of Generations, South Sudan

For more information, interviews and images, contact pstachnik@womenforwomen.org

About Women for Women International

Women for Women International invests where inequality is greatest by helping women who are forgotten — the women survivors of war and conflict. In Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, women learn skills to rebuild their families and communities through Women for Women International’s Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Program. They form support networks, are equipped with the skills to earn an income and save and gain knowledge and resources about health and their rights. Since 1993, our global community has invested in the power of over 579,000 women across 17 conflict-affected countries, to create a ripple effect that makes the world more equal, peaceful, and prosperous.

We contribute to improving the environment for women’s voice and participation by skilling grassroots women leaders to be Change Agents and advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities and beyond. We also amplify women's voices to national and international decision-makers and work to influence policies, processes and agendas that impact women’s lives. To learn more about the power of women, for women, visit womenforwomen.org or follow @WomenforWomen on social media.