Five reasons why climate change exacerbates gender-based violence
It is commonly acknowledged that climate change is the foremost existential threat of our time. Even with increased attention to climate justice, the intersections between climate change and gender-based violence (GBV) are often unexplored. This is despite the fact that there is growing evidence to suggest that climate change and environmental degradation increase the risks of GBV, including trafficking and child early and forced marriage (CEFM). For example, in the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo in the Philippines, a quarter of women aged 18-24 reported experiencing intimate partner violence, and violence increased three-fold in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. With the escalating frequency and severity of climate-related disasters and the associated impacts of migration, climate change has firmly become a feminist issue.
At Kore Global, we have increasingly brought a climate justice lens to the work we do on gender equality and specifically on GBV. Through these targeted efforts, we have gained a better understanding of how and ultimately, why climate change and GBV are deeply interconnected.
As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins, we have summarized a few of the insights from our work below to contribute to the discussion of this important intersection and catalyze joint action.
1. Climate related-disasters can increase risk factors
Conditions associated with both slow-onset and acute disasters can intensify the risk factors that fuel GBV. Women and girls are often responsible for the collection of food, water and firewood. Drought can leave women more vulnerable to violence as they have to make longer - and sometimes more dangerous - journeys. Research in Uganda found that in drought settings there is increased sexual exploitation in exchange for the purchase of food or to pay rent. Furthermore, in migration settings, shelters can leave women and minority gender groups with greater physical and privacy-related risks, with women particularly vulnerable to violence when sleeping, washing or bathing.
2. Climate related-disasters can disrupt essential services
Climate-related disasters often result in migration and the disruption of essential services that are critical to GBV response efforts. These essential services - ranging from healthcare, psychosocial support, social, and legal and justice services - are often under-resourced or suspended during acute disasters. This often happens in the context of heightened demand for such services. For instance, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, there was a 62 percent increase in requests for violence survivor-related services.
3. Climate related-disasters can deteriorate social support structures
Much like the disruption to essential services, acute disasters and migration often undermine traditional support structures, such as family connections and relationships with community leaders. As a result, social isolation can leave individuals more vulnerable to violence.
4. Climate related-disasters can increase rates of child, early and forced marriage
When families cannot meet basic needs, the risks of child, early and forced marriage increase. New research from Save the Children indicates that two-thirds of child marriages happen in regions with higher-than-average climate risks. Furthermore, they estimate that the number of girls at risk of child marriage will increase by over 30% to nearly 40 million by 2050.
5. Climate related-disasters can result in more rigid and discriminatory gender norms
The root cause of GBV is gender inequality. There is a significant body of literature to suggest that emergencies increase household stresses, change power dynamics and challenge dominant gender roles (such as men experiencing unemployment). This can result in increasingly discriminatory gender attitudes and practices, ultimately fueling gender inequality.
So what can be done? While the relationship between GBV and climate change is well established in the literature, there remains a limited - although growing - evidence base on climate-informed GBV interventions and approaches. What is clear is that a holistic approach is necessary; this includes cross-sectoral partnerships and cooperation at all levels and greater integration of gender equality and GBV into broader humanitarian processes (such as disaster preparedness and humanitarian response plans). Climate change is a feminist issue and, as such, women’s rights organizations and women environmental human rights defenders must be central to response efforts.
Written by Katherine Nichol, Principal Consultant, Kore Global.
