Climate Change Giving Rise to Sexual Violence

Analysis of national level data of 156 countries found that extreme weather events, like storms, landslides & floods, can increase intimate partner violence over the two years following the events

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Extreme, prolonged droughts, sometimes lasting up to over three years, in low- and middle-income countries can worsen social vulnerabilities indirectly, increasing levels of sexual violence against girl teenagers and women, a study has found.

Researchers, including those from Curtin University, Australia, said the findings emphasise how climate change can have a negative impact on women who have to travel long distances for water, are sometimes forced to migrate for resources and are encouraged to marry early as a downstream effect.