Even as countries buckle under the devastating social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must consider the links between gender inequality and crisis, particularly in communities affected by climate change and conflict. That’s the premise of a new UN report which argues that understanding these connections can help policymakers and donors to mitigate risks of violence and support the building of resilient, inclusive and peaceful societies.
“The climate crisis stretches well beyond just climate, and tackling it effectively requires responses that address the links between gender, climate and security – we must ensure no one is left behind”, said Inger Andersen, Executive Director at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which co-authored the study alongside UN Women, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA).
The report – Gender, Climate & Security: Sustaining Inclusive Peace on the Frontlines of Climate Change – features case studies from across the globe. They reveal how gender norms and power structures determine how women and men are affected by, and respond to, crises. In Sudan and Nepal, for example, climate change has forced men to leave their villages to seek work elsewhere, leaving women to shoulder increased household responsibilities in degraded environments. Other examples focus on risks faced by women in informal settlements in urban areas, including in Pakistan and Sierra Leone.
The authors warn that the COVID-19 pandemic is further compounding the impacts of climate change on food security, livelihoods, social cohesion and security. This threatens to undermine development gains, escalate violence and disrupt fragile peace processes. Interventions around natural resources, the environment and climate change, provide opportunities for women’s political and economic leadership, according to the report. The report calls for greater investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment in fragile states. The authors hope the report will help to reinforce women’s roles in peacebuilding, which is fundamental to achieving sustainable development for all.
Source: The UN
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