Drawing on research across Mali, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen, CIVIC’s new policy brief “When Only Certain Voices Are Heard, Protection Becomes Partial” examines how gender shapes community-based protection in conflict settings. Across four distinct conflict contexts, one finding is consistent: when protection mechanisms exclude or marginalise women, youth and other groups, protection outcomes are weaker for everyone. Women and men experience conflict differently, they face distinct threats, identify different risks and bring complementary perspectives to protection efforts. When women participate meaningfully in community protection, communities are better able to identify harm, strengthen early warning systems, reach vulnerable populations and develop effective responses.

Gender-responsive protection is not about prioritizing women over men. In several contexts, men face disproportionate risks of detention, forced recruitment and battlefield casualties, realities that effective protection must also address. Intersecting factors, including age, disability, displacement status and ethnicity, compound these risks further, shaping who is most excluded and most exposed. Meaningful inclusion does not happen automatically. It requires deliberate action to remove barriers, build capacity and ensure diverse voices genuinely shape protection priorities. The research shows that inclusive community-based protection is more effective protection. And local successes only endure when backed by sustained institutional support, political will and long-term investment.

Read the full report. Read the two-pager in English, French, Ukrainian and Arabic.