Women and war [antikvár]

Armed conflicts, both present and past, have greatJy affected the lives of women and girls, whether as members of the civilian population or the armed forces. Civilians - men, women and children - have died in large numbers in conflicts throughout the world. For those who survived, their lives and livelihoods have often been severely damaged. Today's conflicts are frequently fought within a State between different ethnic or political groups rather than across international borders. A notable feature of these conflicts is that the civilian population is increasingly "caught up" in the conflict or even deliberately targeted by the parties to the conflict. Women and girls predominantly experience armed conflict as members of the civilian population, and as such are often exposed to acts of violence, including death and injury from indiscriminate military attacks and the prevalence of mines; lack of the basic means of survival and health care; and limitations on their means to support themselves and their families. Disappearances, hostage-taking, torture, imprisonment, sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment into the armed forces, displacement - these all happen to women and girls as well as men and boys. The multifaceted ways that women and girls are affected by armed conflict need to be recognized and appropriately addressed. Women throughout the world are showing not only that they can be extremely resilient, but alsó that they can put their ingenuity and coping skills to full use in their daily roles as heads of household, breadwinners and care providers within their families and their communities. This capacity is helping to sustain and rebuild communities torn apart by armed conflict.