Trigger warning: Sexual violence and rape
It’s been little more than a week since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, yet the atrocities are mounting fast. Already, reports of rape by soldiers are emerging, alongside tales of trafficking gangs targeting women fleeing the conflict. The resulting refugee crisis is already the largest seen in Europe since World War II.
As with many modern wars, men have taken the fighter role while women have been forced to hunker down or flee, oftentimes with children. It is reported that one million fled Ukraine in the week following Russia’s invasion.
Yet while the conflict in Ukraine is unlike anything seen in Europe for a generation, ongoing unrest continues in Afghanistan, the DRC, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and elsewhere too. And in the midst of every one of these wars, it is women bearing the burden of violence, poverty, and inequality.
Ready to join The Flock?
When you join The Flock, you pay it forward. Every paid subscription generates a second for a woman on reduced income, ensuring we remain advertising-free and accessible to all.
Want to support us? Subscribe below for just £4.99 a month and get your first 14 days free. Can’t afford that right now? We'll be reopening our waitlist for paid forward memberships soon, so watch this space.
Got a gift card to redeem? Click here.
Already have an account? Sign in here.