Many women in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo,  Gaza are unable to access services or safely report abuse

UN agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says many women are unable to access services or safely report abuse, especially in countries where protection systems are weakened by crisis, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gaza.

The organization is  consequently urging governments, humanitarian actors, and communities to step up efforts to prevent, address, and ultimately end the violence faced by women and girls around the world.

IOM stated this as the world marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV),  

Every day, IOM teams meet women and girls whose stories trace the fault lines of today’s crises, their journeys marked by courage, loss, and a determination to survive. In Sudan, a mother walked for six days through areas of active fighting, holding her daughters as they fled their village. In Djibouti, a teenager arrived alone after being separated from her family on the Eastern migration route. In Mozambique, a mother pregnant with her second child watched floodwaters swallow her home for the third time in four years.

“I have met women and girls who have survived impossible situations. From fleeing conflict zones to crossing treacherous deserts to rebuilding their lives after losing everything to cyclones, they face increased risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse, often with little or no access to services,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “Keeping them safe must remain a central part of every response. I am proud that IOM’s operations put women and girls at the center. But we need to do more, and we need to do better.”  

Globally, one in three women experiences violence in her lifetime. For women and girls living through conflict, disasters and displacement, the risks sharply rise to 70 per cent. Many are unable to access services or safely report abuse, especially in countries where protection systems are weakened by crisis, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gaza.

Across the Eastern migration route, more women and girls are being forced onto journeys once dominated by men. Countless face forced marriage, trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other abuses hidden in remote deserts and transit towns. Despite these challenges, IOM continues to put protection systems in place, empowering local actors and providing life-saving services and care. 

IOM’s work spans across 157 countries working with Governments, local women-led organizations, and partners to bring services to those who need them most. From mobile protection teams that move between displacement sites to identifying survivors, connecting them to medical care, psychosocial first aid, and providing dignity kits, IOM supports safe spaces for women and girls, offering a refuge where survivors can speak freely and begin healing.

Along land migration routes, IOM operates migration response centres that offer a lifeline for millions, including the opportunity to voluntarily return home and reintegrate in their communities. Continuous protection monitoring along the route helps identify new risks, allowing services to adapt and ensuring women and girls are not navigating these dangers alone.

In areas prone to climate hazards that pushed families into cycles of displacement, IOM supports communities to rebuild safer homes, strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure, and put in place community protection mechanisms that reduce exposure to risks including GBV.

As crises intensify and displacement grows, IOM remains committed to upholding the safety, agency, and dignity of women and girls everywhere. The Organization continues to advocate for stronger protection systems, greater accountability, and the integration of GBV risk mitigation across all operations.