From Rising Temperatures to Rising Threats: Confronting Climate-Induced Violence Against Women and Girls

Chuka N. Emezue, PhD, MPH, MPA, CHES®¹ - Violence and Trauma SIG

While nations such as Afghanistan, Malawi, and Iran grapple with catastrophic flooding and others confront cold snaps, disease outbreaks, and extreme weather events, a critical yet often overlooked issue lurks: the rise of violence against women and girls in climate-impacted settings. From the makeshift shelters of climate refugees to the homes of those struggling to rebuild after disaster, women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of both the environmental and social upheaval that follows climate-induced disasters.

Climate change and violence against women and girls (VAWG) are closely linked. We saw spikes in VAWG in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, in Bangladesh following recurrent floods, and in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, which devastated parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi in 2019. Closer to home, hurricane Katrina shut down shelters for survivors of domestic violence, even as the number of rape cases involving female victims displaced increased by 53.6 times the baseline rate in 2005 (Schumacher et al. 2010). Similar patterns occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic (Emezue, 2020). Disasters weaken protective social structures such as law enforcement, mutual aid, child protection, and healthcare systems, as essential resources become scarce and are used as bargaining chips.

One in three women worldwide experience physical and sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime (Scoglio et al., 2023), with incidents increasing after disasters (Schumacher et al., 2010). VAWG following natural disasters manifests as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, forced child marriages, sex/human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices. Annually, 12 million girls under 18 are forced into marriage, many in regions highly susceptible to natural disasters. In affected communities, VAWG rises due to frustration over diminishing resources and economic opportunities. Drought-induced forced migration also heightens the risk of sexual and gender-based violence for women and families in agro-pastoral societies, who often face abuse or must exchange sexual favors for necessities when migrating for sustenance.

Environmental disasters can increase VAWG due to the collapse of social structures, psychological distress, heightened stress, substance dependence, financial difficulties, and challenges to gender norms. Resettlement camps can exacerbate VAWG by denying access to safe spaces, clean water, food, sanitation, and healthcare, with violence sometimes perpetrated by individuals from humanitarian organizations.

In a previous Outlook article (“Someone You Know: Empowering Interpersonal Violence Survivors through Trauma and Violence Informed Care in Health Behavior Research and Practice”), we underscored the critical role behavioral medicine can play in utilizing trauma- and violence-informed care approaches to support survivors of VAWG. Here again, we advocate for integrating behavioral medicine into climate resilience strategies to address the psychological and emotional impacts of VAWG. This will create a holistic approach to mitigating the broader psychological, social, and environmental effects of climate change.

As behavioral medicine practitioners, we must adopt gender-transformative approaches to counter climate-related stressors. This includes providing climate leadership —whether in local disaster response or broader policy-making—to foster community resilience. We must also be proficient in trauma-informed mental health care for VAWG survivors (and their abusers), integrating therapies like Trauma-Focused CBT and enhancing access to coping resources. Additionally, gender-sensitive interventions—such as interventions that combine mental health support with climate adaptation strategies—like community rebuilding efforts—can offer comprehensive care to those affected by both crises. Training healthcare providers and community leaders on trauma-informed care remains crucial, alongside advocating for policy reforms, such as the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence put forth by the Biden-Harris Administration, to promote gender equality and prevent violence.

As the discourse surrounding the catastrophic consequences of climate change persists, and as climate change intensifies, so will its impact on vulnerable populations. By incorporating these strategies into response and recovery initiatives, behavioral medicine can play a crucial role in post-disaster scenarios. We must act now to ensure that our responses to climate change are not just environmentally sound, but socially just.

Check out NIH funding opportunities for those interested in Climate Change and Health.

Affiliations

1. Assistant Professor, Rush University Medical Center, College of Nursing, Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing

References

1. Schumacher, J. A., Coffey, S. F., Norris, F. H., Tracy, M., Clements, K., & Galea, S. (2010). Intimate partner violence and Hurricane Katrina: Predictors and associated mental health outcomes. Violence and Victims, 25(5), 588–603.
2. Scoglio, A. A. J., Zhu, Y., Lawn, R. B., Murchland, A. R., Sampson, L., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Jha, S. C., Kang, J. H., & Koenen, K. C. (2023). Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health Symptoms, and Modifiable Health Factors in Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e232977. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.2977
3. Emezue, C. (2020). Digital or digitally delivered responses to domestic and intimate partner violence during COVID-19. JMIR public health and surveillance, 6(3), e19831. doi: 10.2196/19831