How disasters make violence against women worse and what we can do about it
Disasters raise risks of violence and against women and girls by amplifying pre-existing vulnerabilities in society. Gender-inclusive disaster risk reduction can reduce this risk in multiple ways - by identifying the specific needs of women, by r
Disasters raise risks of violence and against women and girls by amplifying pre-existing vulnerabilities in society. Gender-inclusive disaster risk reduction can reduce this risk in multiple ways - by identifying the specific needs of women, by reducing the impacts of disasters more generally, and by empowering women in their communities.
The PreventionWeb editors have collected a selection of articles and research findings that show how disasters worsen violence against women, and some ways we can take action to prevent this spiral of violence and inequality.
Not all hazards are equal
Extreme weather causes a rise in violence against women by their partners. But not all hazards do so in the same way.
Heatwaves were linked to immediate physiological effects, leading to aggression and violence.
Storms or floods, on the other hand, take time to impact mental health and food security in ways that drive violent behaviour, according to the researchers.
Insecurity raises risk factors
During the 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak in the DRC, sexual and physical violence against women and girls was reported to have increased in several ways.
Economic insecurity led women and girls to resort to survival and transactional sex, known risk factors for violence. Harmful gender norms that place the burden of domestic care on women were also heightened. Increased demand for household water, for example, required women and girls to travel long distances or during unusual hours, and their additional travel intensified violence from opportunistic predatory abusers.
Hardship can lead to child marriages
Child marriage can increase during crises, as girls are taken out of school to work and support their families; parents may also resort to marrying off girls when they are struggling to meet their basic needs, which often happens during a disaster.
Emergencies increase women's reliance on men
78% strongly agreed or agreed that during a bushfire emergency, women are more likely to rely on male family members and peers for warning information, evacuation instructions and rescue activities which can prevent them from acting during emergencies.
Rising heat means rising violence
In the worst-case scenario where emissions rise, temperatures warm by more than 4C by the end of the century, and socioeconomic development stalls, the number of people experiencing intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa will almost triple from 48 million in 2015 to 140 million in 2060.
We need to unite against heat and violence
Addressing the dual challenges of extreme heat and violence, including gender-based violence, requires coordination among the health sector, disaster management bodies, women's organizations, and other service providers that work to prevent and address the consequences of gender-based violence.
Inclusive planning and decision making
Increased representation of women in decision-making positions is recommended. Local women's organisations, too, should be integrated within response planning, and not just relegated to risk communication and community engagement.
Lived experience is vital for emergency managements policies
The recurring issues faced by women in disasters highlight the significant need for their input into emergency management policies because people who have lived experiences can inform the decisions about important considerations in an inclusive manner.
Build violence analysis into anticipatory action
Anticipatory action initiatives should systematically integrate an analysis of gender-based violence (GBV). This can mitigate the risk factors that directly result from anticipatory humanitarian action and ensure that services and support across sectors are safe, accessible and in accordance with the IASC's GBV Guidelines.
Shelters must be safe spaces - from disasters, trauma and violence
In the face of displacement and trauma, it's important volunteers and workers do not excuse violence. Instead, they should provide care that promotes victims' safety, and respects their privacy and dignity. Access and referral to appropriate health and community services should be assured. We need permanent shelters that stay cool during heatwaves and offer protection from flooding.
An action plan for gender-responsive Sendai implementation - including prevention of gender-based violence
The Sendai Gender Action Plan (Sendai GAP) offers a set of concrete actions to improve gender equality in disaster risk reduction - with specific actions to combat violence against women. Key Objective 9 of the Plan aims to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and better prevention and response to gender-based violence in the context of disasters. Various actions throughout the Plan call for prevention and response to gender-based violence as intrinsic to ensuring equality and inclusiveness in disaster risk reduction.