Facing Two Storms: How the Climate Crisis is Fueling the Rise of Violence Against Women

The link between climate change and violence against women and girls is becoming clearer, and urgent action is needed.

A recent report from the UN Spotlight Initiative reveals that as climate change worsens, so does gender-based violence globally. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are straining communities and putting women and girls in vulnerable situations. They face increased risks of violence as natural and social systems break down.

According to the UN, nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. However, this number might be just the tip of the iceberg since many incidents go unreported due to shame or a lack of support systems. This has led experts to label violence against women as a “shadow pandemic.”

The report highlights that by 2090, climate change could contribute to 10% of intimate partner violence cases, with each 1°C rise increasing risks by 4.7%. Climate change doesn’t directly cause violence, but it intensifies existing issues like economic instability, food shortages, and conflicts, dangerously pushing women and girls into more vulnerable positions.

For women already facing violence, the future could bring more severe forms such as trafficking, child marriage, and femicide. Certain groups, like women environmental human rights defenders, are particularly at risk. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizes that these attacks are intentional, targeting those who challenge societal norms and attempting to silence them.

Women in Indigenous communities are especially prone to various forms of violence, including harassment and sexual assault. For instance, those in climate-vulnerable regions are facing dire situations, leading to increased risks of violence, particularly for marginalized groups.

The report notes alarming trends during extreme weather. For example, intimate partner violence can spike by as much as 28% during heatwaves. Similarly, more incidents of human trafficking occur due to displacement or gradual changes like desertification.

In the Horn of Africa, repeated droughts have led to severe food insecurity. Families, struggling to survive, sometimes resort to marrying off their young daughters. UNICEF highlights that some families marry off girls as young as twelve to older men just to survive.

On the other side of the world, Hawaii experienced a different type of crisis after the devastating wildfires in Lahaina in 2023. As people lost homes and resources, reports indicated a rise in sexual exploitation and domestic violence, particularly among Filipino migrant women. A study found that a significant number of these women felt pressured to engage in sexual acts to secure basic necessities.

Despite the evidence linking climate change and gender inequality, only a tiny fraction (0.04%) of climate-related funding addresses gender issues. The Spotlight Initiative stresses the need to include prevention of gender-based violence in all climate policies. This is crucial for protecting women and girls and ensuring their voices are heard in climate decision-making.

Romina Khurshid Alam, Pakistan’s Climate Change Coordinator, insists that women’s roles in climate action cannot be overlooked. If women are excluded from these discussions, vital issues like gender-based violence may be ignored altogether.

This situation demands our attention and action. Prioritizing the voices of women in environmental policies is essential for effective climate solutions and for safeguarding their rights.

Source: UN Spotlight Initiative report.

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