World Spends More on Weapons in One Hour Than Fighting Sexual Violence All Year—A Stark Accountability Crisis

At a pivotal United Nations Security Council debate this week, the chilling reality emerged: the world spends more money on weapons in a single hour than it devotes in an entire year to combating sexual violence in conflict zones. This stark imbalance was highlighted by Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, who laid bare the consequences of misplaced priorities amid rampant militarism. Why Are We Funding War Machines Over Women’s Safety? Patten’s forceful critique exposes an uncomfortable truth. As authoritarian regimes and global powers escalate military expenditures, cutting humanitarian aid and programs that protect vulnerable...