This oral statement was broadcasted at the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on the Secretary-General’s Analytical Study on Climate Change. Click here to watch the video statement.

My name is Menka Goundan from the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, (ARROW). We welcome the report of the Secretary-General on the impact of loss and damage.

Loss and damage often includes damage to healthcare systems, thereby limiting access to essential sexual and reproductive health services such as maternal care, contraception, and safe abortion. Displacement and poverty due to climate disasters heighten risks of sexual and gender-based violence.

Women, especially in vulnerable regions, often lose livelihoods, which directly impacts their ability to access healthcare and make independent reproductive choices. Women are frequently excluded from climate decision-making processes, leaving their needs unaddressed.

Addressing loss and damage demands gender-sensitive solutions that prioritize women’s rights and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services, especially during climate crises. We call on states, as duty bearers, to heed the recommendations in the Secretary General’s Study.

Thank you.