A look to the experiences of migrant women in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
New research exposes how women and children are disproportionally affected by climate migration, which puts them at greater risk of gender-based violence, child labour and exploitation.
Women and girls displaced due to climate disasters are more likely to face domestic violence, sexual harassment, trafficking and forced early and child marriage, the research finds.
In Shaiday refugee camp near Herat, Afghanistan, which is home to 42,000 families, with an estimated 75% displaced by recent climate disasters, ActionAid found parents, who had lost everything due to severe flooding, were seeking a ‘bride price’ for girls as young as two, who they could no longer afford to care for.
Governments must ensure the safety and protection of women and girls in climate emergencies, including the safe and equal access to basic services, food, and healthcare before, during, and after disasters. Women must also be included in decision making in their communities so they can lead on resilience building and address gendered issues of migration and displacement.
This article was originally published by ActionAid International, “Invisible women: A gender analysis of climate-induced migration in South Asia”, 22/07/2021