Climate change and violence against women
Climate change amplifies existing gender inequalities and places women and girls at greater risk of violence. As climate-related disasters intensify, women and girls have become more vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking. These disasters also disrupt people’s livelihoods and access to resources, increasing the risks and threats women and girls face. Unless we tackle gender-based violence, dealing with issues caused by the climate crisis, such as reducing the impact of these shocks and helping communities adapt, will be much harder.
How to address the impact of the climate crisis on gender inequality
Addressing the link between climate change and violence against women and girls requires a holistic approach. The first crucial step is for countries and international organizations to agree on how climate change and violence are connected. This means working together across different areas and sectors to improve response mechanisms.
Second, it is important to understand why violence spikes during climate shocks, environmental degradation, and disasters. For this, conducting a gender analysis can assist with identifying the factors fueling of violence against women.
It is also important to invest resources in forging connections and partnerships between those already working on the links between climate change and violence against women, such as grassroots organizations, advocacy groups, institutions, and practitioners. Increasing awareness of the impacts of climate change on gender-based violence is also critical in driving more investments to stopping violence through environmental and climate-related finance and funds.
Lastly, improving collection and analysis of violence against women and girls data and statistics within the context of climate change is essential. These approaches collectively contribute to effectively addressing the complex challenges that arise when climate change and violence against women and girls meet.
