Six Years On: Women and the Renewed Conflict in Tigray

An in-person discussion on the realities facing women in Tigray, the risks posed by renewed conflict, and the urgent need for peace. An in-person discussion on the realities facing women in Tigray, the risks posed by renewed conflict, and the urgent need for peace November 4, 2026, marks six years since the outbreak of the war in Tigray, Ethiopia, a conflict that brought catastrophic consequences for the region's population, particularly women and girls. The war was marked by mass killings, the widespread and systematic use of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the destruction of health facilities and essential infrastructure, and the displacement of millions. Women and girls endured unimaginable violence, loss, and deprivation, with lasting consequences for their physical and mental health, livelihoods, safety, and access to justice. The signing of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 raised hopes for an end to the violence and a path toward peace, recovery, and accountability. However, the agreement brought only a temporary silencing of the guns. Its implementation remains incomplete, and the underlying drivers of conflict and many of the conditions that made civilians vulnerable remain unresolved. Today, renewed fighting and deadly drone strikes are once again putting civilian lives at risk, while growing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea raise concerns about further escalation and wider regional instability. Meanwhile, millions of people remain in need of humanitarian assistance, with access to essential services and support severely constrained. For women and girls in Tigray, six years on, the crisis is far from over. The devastating legacy of the 2020 war intersects with ongoing insecurity, renewed violence, displacement, limited access to health care and other essential services, disrupted livelihoods, and persistent barriers to justice and recovery. The prospect of further conflict threatens to deepen an already profound humanitarian and protection crisis. Marking six years since the outbreak of the war, this in-person discussion will examine what six years of conflict have meant for women and girls in Tigray, the realities they continue to face, and the implications of renewed violence for their safety, rights, and future. It will also explore the urgent need to strengthen civilian protection, ensure humanitarian access, advance accountability for violations, and address the conditions necessary for a just and lasting peace. Parking is available underneath the School of International Service or Bender Arena Opening remarks: Dr. Lauren Carruth , American University Moderator: Sarah Miller , Senior Fellow, Refugees International Speakers: Lahra Smith, Associate Professor, Georgetown University Meaza Gebremedhin , Executive Director , Harambee Collective Abdullahi Boru Halakhe , Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa , Refugees International Co-organized by Harambee Collective, Refugees International, Georgetown University’s African Studies Program, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, and American University’s School of International Service Meaza Gebremedhin is an intersectional feminist, human rights advocate, and policy strategist whose work focuses on gender justice and the rights of conflict-affected communities. During the first phase of the Tigray war, she played a leading role in international advocacy and policy engagement aimed at ending the war, documenting and bringing attention to widespread human rights violations, and mobilizing humanitarian assistance for affected communities. Working at the intersection of grassroots organizing and international advocacy, she helped bring the realities and demands of communities in Tigray to international policymakers and decision-makers, pressing for action, accountability, and protection for civilians, particularly women and girls. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Harambee Collective, an organization working to rehabilitate and support war-affected communities in Tigray and beyond through humanitarian programming and advocacy. Meaza holds a BA in International Studies, an MA in International Relations, and an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy and Programming from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).