Reports of violence against women in Gaza surge, UN agency finds
A UN report indicates a 123% increase in reported cases of early and forced marriage among women and girls in Gaza during the second quarter of the year. The crisis has created conditions where gender-based violence is escalating rapidly.
Why it matters
The findings underscore the severe humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict on vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
Image source, Reuters By Yolande Knell , Middle East correspondent and Malak Hassouneh , Reporting from Jerusalem Published 12 minutes ago There has been a sharp rise in reports of violence against women and girls in the Gaza Strip, including early and forced marriage, according to a series of recent reports from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
One report, which analyses data collected by 10 organisations, says , external the protracted crisis in war-torn Gaza has "created conditions in which women and girls face escalating risks of gender-based violence".
It also warns that there has been a "severe escalation" in the number of early and forced marriage incidents in the second quarter of this year. Both are considered types of gender-based violence (GBV) by the UN.
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