The degradation of nature can lead to gender-based violence including sexual assault, domestic violence and forced prostitution, according to a IUCN study .
The study finds that gender-based violence is primarily used as a systemic means to reinforce existing privileges and power imbalances over roles and resources. For instance, conflict over access to scarce resources can give rise to practices such as ‘sex-for-fish’, where fishermen refuse to sell fish to women if they do not engage in sex, which was seen to occur in parts of Eastern and Southern Africa.
As limited natural resources grow even scarcer due to climate change, women and girls must also walk further to collect food, water or firewood, which heightens their risk of being subjected to gender-based violence.
Zonta Club of Perth supports the District 23 initiative – Zonta Says Now to Gender Equity and Climate Action. This initiative advocates for gender-sensitive responses to the climate crisis – so we can create a fairer future for everyone.
Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women
