Staff writer
According to a research done by Women in Governance and Peace Building, the effects of climate change have resulted into some serious repercussions on the socio, political and economic wellbeing of women and girls especially in the rural areas in Zimbabwe, hence to take some mitigatory measures.
Read the report which was based on a research done in Chivi and Mwenezi districts.
“Climate change has devastating impacts on the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of women and girls in rural Zimbabwe.
” Rising Temperatures and Extreme Weather Events have led to increased vulnerability of women and girls especially those in rural areas. The relationship between climate change and SRHR is a complex situation. Climate change is realized as one of the serious threats to public health.
” SRHR is the foundation to gender equality, realization of the right to bodily autonomy, access to participate and contribute across all aspects of the society. Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies must be gender phenomenon and gender responsive.
“A Number of repercussions have been witnessed from the impacts of climate change on SRHR ,these includes violence against women and girls (VAWG),maternal implications, inaccessible health facilities, menstrual precarity, breakdown in women support systems, modulation of relationships, unintended pregnancies, maternal deaths, child marriages, and gender-based violence.
“Most families in the rural areas prioritize immediate survival over long term investments in education and health. If we look at the side of food security families end up splitting to find survival leading to climate migration which has a burden especially on women and girls as they are left to take care of the elderly, those with disability and children leading to unpaid care work, dropping out of school, emotional impacts on separation. Having these in hand it is not all rosy women and girls tend to find other means to easy their burdens and survival which thereby leads to early child marriages, risky pregnancies, involvement in transactional sex and sexual abuses. These limit opportunities for women and girls leading to complex risk to health, mental health challenges, perpetuation of cycles of inequalities and poverty.”
The report said the change of climate weather patterns has resulted in serious mental traumas in women and girls who are already burdened by life challenges.
“The disruption of daily life by patterns of climate change has led to loss of jobs/ homes, potential relocation, risks of trauma and mental health. Social economic costs ignites gender norms and patriarchal structures with normalization to violence and control of partner.
” Women and girls are confined into isolation which increases frequency and severity of violence. Disturbances in natural resources always have women traveling to secure food and water which has posed great dangers to socially/geographical isolated women and girls. Women and girls end up involved with transactional sex,sex violence,unitended pregnancies,STIs,forced marriages and sex trafficking.
” At the end of it all it undermines the dignity, autonomy and limit future glory of girls and women.”
Women in Governance and Peace Building said strategies and systems aimed at promoting gender transition must be persued to mitigate the effects of climate change on rural women and girls.
“Climate change as a determinant of health needs relevant avenues and resilient systems that can adapt to new concerns. Investment in information services and infrastructure towards resilient and inclusive healthy systems have potential to reduce impacts of climate change on SRHR.
“Launching collaborations between climate change, health and women’s rights advocates to promote gender transition in addressing climate change and SRHR across climate change processes.
Increase of focus on inclusive gender balance, multisector stakeholders’ participation in climate policies, investment in research to address the evident gaps and international analysis on climate and SRHR is crucial.
Above all there is need of vast supportive environment to ease burdens so that women and girls thrive especially in relation to critical health services that support well-being and empower women and girls with knowledge and resources.
” There is need for increased Sexual Reproductive Health Rights awareness, engagement of community leaders prior to the topics, enhancement of the participation of women and girls around climate justice, support from the male community which will result in growth of demands in initiatives that address climate change un nexus with SRHR.it is essential to Integrate SRHR into Climate Change Policies and programs.
” This includes ensuring access to comprehensive SRHR services, promoting climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, and supporting community-based initiatives that address the unique needs of women and girls in rural Zimbabwe.”