New York: In Africa’s Sahel region, escalating violence and poverty, compounded by displacement, hunger, and terrorism, are severely affecting women and girls, stripping them of their rights to safety, education, and a promising future. The challenges they face are exacerbated by political instability, environmental degradation, and decreasing international support.

According to EMM, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, informed ambassadors in the Security Council about the dire situation. She highlighted that women and girls are increasingly subjected to abductions, child marriages, and exclusion from educational and public spheres. Their freedoms, including movement and attire, are severely restricted, with over a million girls deprived of education due to school closures and arson.

Bahous further emphasized that abductions are a strategic tactic of terrorism in the Sahel, with Burkina Faso witnessing a doubling of such incidents in the past 18 months. In Mali, female genital mutilation affects 90 percent of women, and child marriage rates are alarmingly high. These factors, combined with poverty, contribute to one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.

The region’s women and girls are forced to travel longer distances for essentials like water and firewood, increasing their vulnerability. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, with extreme weather conditions worsening mortality and food insecurity. Despite growing needs, international aid is dwindling, with only eight percent of this year’s humanitarian appeal met by May. Furthermore, development assistance has decreased by nearly 20 percent in the past two years, leading to the suspension of women’s protection and empowerment programs.

Political participation for women is also restricted. In Niger, a mere 14 percent of participants in recent reforms were women, and in Mali, only two out of 36 members drafting the new national charter were women. Leonardo Santos Simão, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, warned that the deteriorating security environment is hindering progress and increasing displacement. The shrinking space for media, civil society, and women’s organizations threatens previous gains in governance and peacebuilding.

Despite these challenges, there are glimpses of progress. In Chad, women occupy 34 percent of parliamentary seats. Women’s participation in local peacebuilding in Mali and Niger has increased significantly, aiding in the resolution of numerous resource-related disputes. Joint UN programs have facilitated a 23 percent increase in girls returning to school and doubled women’s participation in local governance across conflict-affected communities. A UN-World Bank initiative has also benefited over three million adolescent girls with healthcare and life-skills training.

However, these advancements remain precarious. Bahous urged continued support for the Sahel’s women, emphasizing their potential to shape a better future, beyond political and financial considerations.