Written By: Claudette Francis, Consultant Psychologist, Behavioural Scientist, Senior International Advisor – Community Systems Strengthening and Engagement, Director CRFsilc, marpconsult@gmail.com
Claudette Francis
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to violence directed against a person because of his or her gender and/or gender expression, and the expectations of his or her societal or cultural role. Oftentimes, this phrase is used interchangeably with violence against women and girls, although that isn’t so. As the term suggests, people are targeted because of gender; therefore, men and boys can be victims of GBV, especially sexual violence, as well as LBGTQ+ individuals, who experience GBV because of non-conformity to expected sexuality-associated social and cultural norms. However, women and girls are more likely to be GBV victims.
Violence doesn’t only refer to physical, “cuff and kick”, or sexual harm, as previously mentioned, but also to psychological harm. GBV takes all these forms and occurs publicly and privately, in homes, communities, and workplaces.
HIV-positive women and girls, migrant workers, those in institutions and challenged with disabilities, and women and girls in emergency settings or emergency aftermath are more vulnerable to experiencing multiple forms of violence, discrimination and socio-economic exclusion.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in Earth’s weather conditions. It is primarily caused by burning fossil fuels like oil and gas that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures. This rise results in more frequent and severe heat waves, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and heavier rain. Additionally, melting ice caps and glaciers cause sea-level rise, threatening coastal communities, especially in small island states.
So how does GBV relate to climate change? Warmer temperatures fuel more intense storms and hurricanes, similarly intensifying our rainy seasons, and resulting in heavier rainfall over shorter periods, leading to flash floods and landslides. The Caribbean is hurricane-prone, and most recently experienced Hurricane Melissa, a Category-5 storm, which caused severe damage to Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti’s social fabric and infrastructures.
When climate disasters strike, families often cannot meet their basic needs for food, shelter and security. Household tensions increase, and can result in domestic violence and incest. Women and girls forced to find water and food for the family outside the household might be sexually assaulted, killed or treated as bargaining chips, trading sexual activity for money or food.
Climate disasters also damage schools and health services. Children face disrupted education, or may not be able to access medical care. Girls taken out of school to become caregivers to siblings and the elderly are less likely to return to their education. Extreme weather events can impact menstrual justice, meaning that women and girls lose access to safe and dignified menstrual hygiene products to manage their periods. Without these, being in public during their period cycle is extremely challenging. Additionally, they might lose access to reproductive health services and contraception, resulting in increased pregnancies, especially among teenage girls.
While extreme climate disasters clearly worsen GBV, daily stresses many families experience due to climate change can gradually build, causing the same outcome. Throughout the world, climate change’s effects are wide-ranging and profound. Costs for rebuilding and recovery can be overwhelming for poor communities already lacking resources.
Imagine a farmer losing his crop due to rainy season flooding. He may physically lash out at his wife in fear and frustration, while she may berate him or return blows, terrified about their survival. With hotter temperatures, more rain destroying what little is left, and no easy way to recover, it’s easy to see how climate change can aggravate GBV.
Trinbagonians hold beliefs that men are leaders and women are followers. A woman is subject to her husband’s authority and her purpose in life should revolve around her husband, children and home. Despite these beliefs, Caribbean women are very engaged in governance and leadership. Barbados has a female prime minister. Trinidad and Tobago has a female prime minister, president and opposition leader. Caribbean women and girls aren’t barred from educational and business endeavours; our women have reproductive health rights and access and are afforded economic security and empowerment. We can be proud of our progress, but more must be done.
During November and December, climate change and GBV are the international community’s focus. They are pressing for issues requiring immediate attention. Understanding their impact is only the first step. Individuals, communities, and policymakers must make the link and take measures to mitigate their effects; then interventions to stem GBV and reverse climate change work together towards a sustainable future.
We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, e.g. solar and wind, conserve rainforests, water resources, and recycle. Schools, universities, community organizations and business can play a crucial role in raising awareness. Campaigns, seminars, and workshops can lead to policy changes that build up countries’ infrastructures to better handle climate change and all its effects while preventing worsening GBV. By educating ourselves about GBV and climate change, we can better society and preserve our planet.
The foregoing is a weekly column by EarthMedic and EarthNurse NGO to help readers understand and address the climate and health crisis.
