WUNRN
According
to the research of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization, women
and children are 14 times more likely to die than men are during a
disaster. In 2006, a study at the London School of Economics analyzing
disasters in 141 countries provided the definitive evidence that gender
differences in deaths from natural disasters are directly linked to women’s
economic and social rights.Since it is poor and elderly women who are
disproportionately affected by climate change, there is a strong case for the
need to ensure equal social and economic rights for all women.
STATEMENT
TO THE 11th SESSION OF THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
HUMAN
RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, WOMEN
By the Worldwide Organization for Women
15 June 2009
This statement is
joined by the following members of the CoNGO NGO Committee on the Status of
Women: Worldwide
Organization for Women (WOW) , Pan Pacific and South
East Asia Women’s Association (PSAWA), (International Federation of University Women,
International Business and Professional Women, International Alliance of Women,
International Council of Women, Zonta International, Federation of American
Women’s Clubs Overseas, International
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Women’s Federation for World Peace
International.)
We appreciate the opportunity that has been given in this 11th Session to discuss human rights and climate change. Specifically today we would like to address the issue of women and climate change. According to the research of the Women’s Environment and Development organization, women and children are fourteen times more likely to die than men are during a disaster. In 2006, a study at the London School of Economics analyzing disasters in 141 countries provided the definitive evidence that gender differences in deaths from natural disasters are directly linked to women’s economic and social rights. That is, gender inequalities are magnified in disaster situations. So when women lack basic rights, more women than men will die from natural disasters.
In many countries women are supposed to look
after children, the elderly and their homes which hampers their own rescues
efforts in almost all types of natural disasters. Yet, the most important
reason why women are more vulnerable to the fatal impact of natural disasters
is because of their lower social and economic status in many countries. Climate
change poses a serious challenge to social and economic development. Women have less access to financial resources,
land, education, health and other basic rights and are seldom involved in the
decision making processes. When poor women lose their livelihood, they slip
deeper into poverty and the inequality and are less able able to cope with the
impact of climate change.
These discrepancies are the result of existing inequalities. For example climate change will affect some of the most fundamental social determinants of health: poverty, food, housing and water. The warming of the planet will be gradual, but the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as intense storms, heat waves, droughts and floods, will be abrupt and the consequences will be acutely felt.
Both women and girls suffer more from the shortages of food and economic resources in the aftermath of disasters. Boys are likely to receive preferential treatment in rescue efforts and often during and after disasters such as long periods of droughts more gird drop out of school to reduce household expenses by saving school fees or to assist in the household with task such as fetching water.
A strain on food production will certainly translate into increased hardship for women, who often carry out the majority of farming activities. As crop yields decline and resources become scarcer, women’s workload will expand. In times of drought, they will also have to spend more time performing another typical female responsibility – carrying, purifying and supplying the family’s water.
Since it is poor and elderly women who are
disproportionately affected by climate change, there is a strong case for the
need to ensure equal social and economic rights for all women. Climate change
interventions that fail to address women’s needs will fail to support those
most affected by climate change and reinforce the disparity between men and
women in their capacity to adapt to ongoing changes in the world climatic
conditions.
Efective and responsive replementation requires balanced participation of all relevant stakeholder including men and women where their experiences are reflected.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said climate change imperils the most precious treasures of our planets and it’s the defining issue of our era.
The time for this definition is now and should necessarily reflect a woman’s perspective.
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