Recent news stories and reports testify to a horrifying reality for women and girls caught in crisis situations. From rape to child marriage to sexual slavery, women and girls in conflict face severe threats and violations of their human rights that most of us cannot begin to imagine.
While it is good news that some of the women and girls abducted by Boko Haram were recently rescued, they face trauma, stigma and health concerns. As we provide services to them, we cannot forget countless others in many countries who face an ongoing nightmare of fear and violence. An estimated 4 million Syrian women and girls of childbearing age are in need of humanitarian assistance.
In times of crisis, all women worry about the future and whether they will even survive. Many women become heads of household with the sole responsibility of caring for their children. Pregnant women fear for their health and wonder if they will deliver safely. Women and girls who are raped are often confronted with blame and shame instead of the loving care and support they need. And these hardships are compounded for women who are pregnant as a result of rape.
About the author
Babatunde Osotimehin
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin is executive director of the U.N. Population Fund since January 2011. A renowned physician and public health expert, he was previously Nigerian minister of health and director-general of the country’s agency on AIDS. At UNFPA, Babatunde supervises efforts to promote the rights and ability of young people to build a better world in the context of sexual and reproductive health.
