Gender-Based Violence in the Context of Climate Change in the Arab Region. Review of Evidence and Pathways.

The impact of climate change is not felt the same by everyone. As climate change impacts access to resources and livelihoods, women and girls, especially those experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, face heightened risks of gender-based violence, including harmful practices, while their access to prevention and response services may be disrupted by extreme weather events and disasters. Gender-based violence also limits prevention and response efforts to climate change as it creates barriers for women and girls to participate in decision-making and resilience efforts to climate change. In line with the human centred sustainable development outlined in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and as reinforced by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we have an obligation to address the gendered impacts of climate change to meet the internationally agreed commitments for achieving gender equality and fulfilling the human rights of all women and girls for a world where they can exercise their bodily autonomy and live up to their full potential, free from violence. As part of these efforts, this paper aims to present the evidence on the interlinkages between climate change and gender-based violence in the Arab region and to provide recommendations to support the international community, policy-makers, feminist and climate change advocates, researchers and professionals in the field of climate change and gender issues, in acting jointly to strengthen gender-responsive climate action as part of our collective efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.