The gendered toll of armed conflict: how the genocide in Gaza is compounding girls’ risks of child marriage and gender-based violence

The ongoing war and humanitarian blockade in Gaza have profoundly affected all residents, but the impacts differ across age and gender. Indirect effects on girls and young women are more complex and often hidden. This policy brief draws on a mixed-methods study conducted in 2024 with over 1,000 young people and 24 service providers across Gaza’s five governorates. Quantitative data were collected through a representative household survey, complemented by in-depth interviews with adolescents and key informants. Findings show that continuous bombings and siege conditions have intensified harmful gender norms, exposing girls to increased risks of child marriage, gender-based violence and reproductive health complications. By foregrounding the lived experiences of girls and young women, this brief highlights the hidden gendered consequences of armed conflict and calls for urgent, evidence-informed interventions to strengthen gender-sensitive humanitarian responses in Gaza.

Suggested citation:

Vintges, J., Abu Hamad, B. and Jones, N. (2025) ‘The gendered toll of armed conflict: how the genocide in Gaza is compounding girls’ risks of child marriage and gender-based violence’ Policy brief. London: Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (https://gage.odi.org/the-gendered-toll-of-armed-conflict-how-the-genocide-in-gaza-is-compounding-girls-risks-of-child-marriage-and-gender-based-violence/)