This joint statement by ARROW and PATH Foundation Philippines was broadcasted at the 50th Session of the Human Rights Council Panel on exploring the nexus between climate change and violence against women and girls through a human rights lens on 27th June, 2022. View the video statement here.
Distinguished Delegates and Special Rapporteur,
I am Vivien Facunla, speaking on behalf of PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. and the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, ARROW.
We commend the Human Rights Council for reiterating your commitment to address gender-based violence and other adverse impacts of climate change on the full and effective enjoyment of human rights, and we appreciate the recognition on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the interdependence between human rights, healthy environment and combating climate change in a regular, systematic and transparent manner.
Sustainable development and solutions to climate change is not possible without universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Globally, women have limited or even zero access to SRHR, which has become even more limited in humanitarian context due to climate change disasters. The violation of SRHR, specially the rise of gender based violence was more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic due to reprioritisation despite the need and time sensitivity.
Underscoring the fundamental right to SRHR in climate action is critical to ensuring a healthy individuals, communities and ecosystems – all key to climate change resilience and adaptation. This was emphasised in studies done in various countries in the region (including among fisher communities in the Philippines) which showed that unmet need of contraception and other SRHR needs further aggravates climate vulnerability and limited adaptation capacity of families and communities.
Despite becoming more pronounced, policymakers have paid little to no attention to the integrated and holistic approaches to address climate change, SRHR, gender-based violence and environment.
We therefore support the call for states to protect the rights of especially marginalised population who have suffered or are vulnerable to gender based violence considering specific risks, needs, and capabilities in climate action plans, programs and policies. Concretely to:
a. Finance research on the impact of climate change on SRHR and ecological, economic and social benefits of addressing SRHR in climate change action plans and policies.
b. Invest in integrated approach and intersectoral gender-transformative climate action that empowers women and young people in all their diversities to exercise their bodily autonomy and SRHR as well as their rights to decide, participate, manage, and access natural resources.
c. Enhance collaboration and networking among actors involved in climate change, gender, health, and sustainable development sectors.
d. Deliver quality and accessible health-care systems including SRHR services to attain sustainable resilience.
Finally, I echo the call of the women and fishers who we work with to national and international leaders for good governance, to recognise and support practical and integrated solutions that addresses the unmet need for sexual and reproductive health and rights, to address poor health, loss of biodiversity and climate crisis. All of which undermine a health body and a healthy environment – critical elements to climate change resilient communities and a better future for their children.