The need for integrated climate change action in sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence programming - evidence and recommendations for the Arab Region

Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our time and is a major threat to the vision of human-centred sustainable development as outlined in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. Climate change has also emerged as one of the most complex and important factors in the Arab region with dire impacts on water scarcity, food security and human health. The increasing frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather events is exacerbating the social, political, and economic challenges and is rendering the region even more vulnerable to instability and conflict. Extreme events fundamentally challenge the ways in which societies access, benefit from and interact with the environment with impacts on natural resources, food security, infrastructure, social and health services, and livelihoods. The indirect impacts of extreme weather events affect communities and the health and rights of women and girls, especially those who may already be vulnerable to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. In the Arab region, climate change-related extreme events, such as droughts and flooding, impact on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHRR) and gender-based violence (GBV) risks by exacerbating existing gender inequalities and unequal social and gender norms. The pace of climate change, expected to accelerate over the next decade, alongside gender inequalities, extremism, and acute and protracted crises may make it more challenging to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the ICDP Programme of Action in the Arab Region. In effect, climate change, gender equality, and SRHRR are inextricably linked. SRHRR has to be considered a key component of climate adaptation and resilience action and of climate justice. UNFPA’s value proposition on climate change outlines a multipronged approach via four pillars to integrate SRHRR into climate adaptation strategies, and thereby deliver for women and young people. This paper aims to review the existing evidence based on the linkages between climate change and SRHRR and intends to outline UNFPA opportunities for engagement with counterparts in governments and other organisations. The paper formulates recommendations in support of strengthening resilience to climate change for women and girls across various levels of operation and programmatic areas. Women and girls can be effective change-makers for climate resilience as their participation and involvement in sustainability initiatives is leading to more effective climate action.