Women’s full and equal participation at all levels of society is a fundamental human right. During times of conflict, women’s participation in resolving conflict and negotiating peace is especially important to ensure that women’s rights are protected, experiences are recognized, and that peace lasts.

Violence against women and girls manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms. Learn how.

UN Women originally presented these images from the archive of renowned photography agency Magnum Photos at the launch of the Global Study on the Implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 in 2015, to mark the 15th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), which recognized the critical importance of women’s participation in peacemaking and peacebuilding.

One in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence — mostly by an intimate partner. Whether at home, on the streets or during war, violence against women is a global pandemic that takes place in public and private spaces. Together we can and must end this pandemic.