Moreover,
Climate disaster leads increase violence:
Climate change sometimes has unexpected effects. In addition, Each increase of 1 ° C of global temperature translates into an increase of 4.7 % of domestic violence, assesses a recent report from the United Nations Spotlight initiative.
A surprising correlation at first sight. Furthermore, which is explained by an intensification of social and economic tensions arising from climate upheavals.
Gender -based violence. However, climate change are “inextricably linked”, establishes the summary note Colliding Crises: How the climate crisis fuels gender-based violence, which compiles the results of a series of studies on the subject.
“Global warming. For example, extreme weather phenomena, such as droughts, floods, storms, aggravate the underlying risk factors”, indicates to the Duty Erin Kenny, World Coordinator of the Spotlight initiative, who is dedicated to the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Climate upheavals amplify economic instability, create food insecurity, lead to population travel, damage climate disaster leads increase violence infrastructure and conflict.
“They do not cause violence. Nevertheless, but they aggravate what is already present [les discriminations fondées sur le genre]making violence much more likely. Moreover, »»
Clear effects – Climate disaster leads increase violence
During heat waves, for example, the prevalence of marital feminicides is up to 28 % higher. Similarly, A phenomenon-comparable to that experienced during the pandemic of COVID-19-which is explained by increased isolation. Furthermore, the stress experienced during these episodes of extreme heat, particularly by those dependent on agricultural work.
As for the displacements of populations – arising from floods. droughts and creating great precariousness – they lead to an increase in marriages of young girls, an upsurge in sexual assault and a rise in human trafficking.
With a global warming of 2 ° C. “the models predict that 40 million additional women and girls would be victims of domestic violence each year,” said Mr.me Kenny from New York.
In a 3.5 ° C warming scenario, climate disaster leads increase violence this number could more than double. Data that is probably undervalued since it is based on low levels of denunciation of sexual. marital violence, notes the world coordinator of Spotlight.
“We know that for certain groups-especially indigenous women and women with disabilities-, the risks are much more serious,” she adds. The former because they are, as protectors of the earth, at the forefront of climate justice movements. And the seconds due to restrictions on their mobility.
At the forefront
In general, women and girls are more affected by the climate crisis. They represent 80 % of displaced people due to upheavals arising from the rise in temperatures.
They are also who must work stronger in the fields when the crops are bad. To fill water shortages. they often have to move further, which increases the risk they suffer from violence on the way. And when food is missing. young girls generally go climate disaster leads increase violence to the second row, behind the boys, to obtain the one that is available.
The climate crisis is therefore not neutral with regard to the genre. For Erin Kenny, it is therefore imperative to act in a concerted manner.
“We all have to work together – those who work to end violence against women and girls and climate actors. But we are not talking enough, she deplores. These interconnected crises require a unified response. »»
Common approach
According to the Spotlight initiative, a meager 0.04 % of climate -related development aid is focused on gender equality. However. any initiative relating to the climate crisis should include a component of prevention and management of gender -based violence, maintains Mme Kenny.
Several projects of the Spotlight initiative go in this direction. During episodes of tropical storms in Honduras. kits of dignity – containing menstrual products and hygiene items as well as basic foodstuffs – were distributed climate disaster leads increase violence to women hosted in emergency centers.
In the East Timor. spaces adapted to children – to entertain and take care of them – have been developed in crisis centers to relieve women during the floods of 2021.
During the Pandemic of COVID-19. other crisis situations, mobile clinics to ensure the continuity of sexual and reproductive health services were deployed in several countries.
Programs that can serve as examples of ways of fighting violence against women while strengthening climate resilience, argues Erin Kenny. “There must be a stronger political commitment to respond to these crises that intersect,” she underlines.
A previous version of this text has been modified to rectify the title of the study of the SPOTLIGHT initiative.
To watch in video
Further reading: An attack in a church left 20 dead in Damascus – Demonstrations on the Columbia campus | Propalestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is released – 75 years later, the Korean War remains anchored in the present – Trump announces that a “complete” ceasefire would have been agreed between Israel and Iran – Iran strikes have not destroyed its nuclear program.
