AN East Lancashire peer has expressed her fears about the abuse of young women in war-torn states.

Labour's Baroness Massey of Darwen was speaking in a House of Lord debate on adolescent girls in conflict-affected countries.

The former teacher said their teenage years were 'a critical phase in life for achieving human potential'.

Baroness Massey warned: "For the adolescent girls we are discussing today, that potential will be blighted by abuse, sexual violence, poverty, poor health and lack of education.

"The lives of young, valuable future citizens are being destroyed.

"One in six children are now living in a conflict zone and is more at risk from armed conflict than at any other time in the past 20 years.

"We know the terrible, possibly irreversible impacts on children and young people, especially girls, who are also at risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection.

"More efforts and funding are needed to focus on the needs of adolescent girls in conflict situations.

"Gender equality, education, health and empowerment of women and girls are all vital.

"Generations of girls, are having their lives ruined by abuse in fragile and conflict-affected countries. We cannot stand by and watch this happen."

The Earl of Courtown, responding for the government, said: "The United Kingdom is an international leader on gender equality. The Government are committed, across departments, to putting women and girls at the heart of our work to prevent and resolve conflict in some of the world’s most challenging contexts."