The War in Ukraine and Its Effect on Women and Children

Makayla Bangoura

Introduction 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022 has catapulted Ukraine into three and a half years of war, bringing mass devastation and uncertainty about the direction of the conflict. The war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis for Ukrainian citizens, especially for women and children. As the conflict continues, its devastating humanitarian consequences for women and children have become increasingly evident, and as of yet, the war shows no signs of slowing down. 

The Threat to Women’s Rights 

Prior to Russia’s invasion, Ukraine implemented a series of policy initiatives promoting gender equality through their State Social Program on Equal Rights and Opportunities of Women and Men, with the intention to “strengthen the institutional mechanism for gender equality with an integrated approach to addressing the institutional barriers to gender equality.” The state government enacted policy measures such as anti-discrimination, equal opportunity, and flexible work conditions policies to improve gender disparities in workplaces throughout Ukraine. However, the war has halted these efforts. 

According to United Nations Women, Russia’s offensive military operation in Ukraine has rolled back decades of progress for women in Ukraine and has made many women and girls vulnerable to human rights violations. They found that incidents of gender-based violence within the country increased thirty-six percent since the start of the war, and fifteen percent of Ukrainian women have reported sexual violence from members of the Russian military. Additionally, eighty percent of the women who have become victims of sexual violence were found to not have received the necessary medical care to recover from these incidents. UN Women has also reported that 1.8 million women have been forced out of their homes and are currently internally displaced, requiring them to live in temporary accommodations where the risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation is much higher. 3,799 women and 289 girls are confirmed to have been killed due to the war, but the true number is likely much higher. 

The ongoing war in Ukraine has also brought a regression of rights in the workplace for women, bringing a disproportionate amount of economic hardship to women in comparison to men. The wage gap between men and women has doubled, with women now making 41.4 percent less than men. Research has also shown that only forty-eight percent of displaced women are employed, and in 2023, women in Ukraine made up almost seventy-three percent of those who are unemployed. Economic instability and reduced household incomes from the war have also made more women susceptible to domestic violence, putting more women in harm’s way in such uncertain times. 

The Threat to the Safety and Rights of Children 

The war in Ukraine has brought devastating impacts on children throughout the country. The UN Human Rights Council has verified that as of December 2024, almost 700 children have been killed, 1,800 children have been injured since the start of the war, and over 700,000 children have been internally displaced, with 1.7 million being reported as refugees. Many of the children in Ukraine have been separated from their family members and forcibly transferred to either Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine or deported to Russia and Belarus. Many of the children who were transferred have been placed in Russian foster care or adopted by Russian families, with the intention of stripping their Ukrainian nationality and culture. It has been reported that many of the displaced children and refugees have been abducted by Russian military officials and put in re-education camp facilities, with a similar purpose of forcibly integrating them into Russian culture and society.  

Access to education for children in Ukraine has significantly decreased since the start of the war. Human Rights Watch stated that aerial attacks, artillery shelling, cluster munitions, and rocket strikes have destroyed 3,700 education facilities. Russian forces have also frequently looted education facilities throughout the country, putting more children in harm’s way. There are efforts within Ukraine and the International Community to have children return to the classroom and to ensure greater protection of schools from the casualties of war. Several of the actions that Russian officials have taken in regard to children are considered war crimes, such as striking schools or separating children from their families. International law has some ambiguity on how the rights of children are defined. However, INGOs and NGOs have standing mechanisms to protect children affected by conflict. Although, these mechanisms are currently proving to be inadequate in promoting the rights of children in a war-torn Ukraine.   

International Response 

Organizations like UN Women and the Women’s Refugee Commission are working to address the humanitarian needs of women and girls in Ukraine and spread awareness. These organizations have provided medical care for victims of gender-based violence as well as psychological assistance for those experiencing hardship. UN Women stated that they provide legal services and develop economic development programs to help women provide for themselves and their families. The UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, expressed the importance of rebuilding schools in Ukraine, as nearly one million child refugees are not registered for school in the countries where they are seeking asylum. Dominicis also highlighted the importance of rebuilding the education sector as a whole and “supporting learning recovery” to ensure the success of Ukrainian children during and after the war.   

Conclusion 

The war in Ukraine has exacerbated gender-based violence and has rolled back progress for a generation of women. At the same time, children are facing unprecedented threats to their safety and their autonomy while their access to proper education is significantly declining. Currently, there are efforts for Russia and Ukraine to broker a deal to end the war, but there have not been any concrete signs that the war will end soon. Until then, addressing the challenges to children and women’s rights brought by the war will require sustained global attention, extensive humanitarian efforts, and a long-term commitment to rebuilding Ukraine in a way that prioritizes the rights and needs of its most vulnerable populations.