Press Release
05.06.2016
World Environment Day: Exploring Interlinkages Between Climate Change and SRHR
As the world continues to experience incremental yet unpredictable climate change, the interlinkages with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is an emerging issue that needs to be addressed in the context of sustainable development. New scoping studies and advocacy briefs by eight of our partner organizations in Asia-Pacific point exactly to this.
The links between climate change and SRHR are complex and indirect but there is growing evidence that the effects of climate go beyond the environment and have socio-economic and political consequences, exacerbating existing issues of poverty and inequities. This may have profound implications for social justice and gender equality, and could significantly impact on human health.
Asia-Pacific is a region of diverse topographical features including small island states, arid mountainous regions, tropical and temperate forests prone to deforestation, all of which are vulnerable to climate change. Inadequate provision of facilities to face and mitigate climate change intensifies the socio-economic divide, leading to food insecurity and gender-power imbalance. Women, in the position of natural resource managers, are hugely impacted by climate change and are at an increased risk for early and forced marriages, sexual harassment, trafficking, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence.
ARROW and a group of partner organizations from the region are currently in a partnership that aims to generate evidence on interlinkages of climate change and SRHR in Asia-Pacific, beyond the current discourse of population dynamics. The partnership has been identifying areas of policy and programme interventions in climate change adaptation and advocacy work, specifically related to improving women’s health and SRHR. The partnership consists of Khan Foundation Bangladesh, Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan (YJP) Indonesia, University of Health Sciences Lao PDR, Penita Initiative Malaysia, Huvadhoo Aid Maldives, Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) Nepal, Sindh Community Foundation Pakistan, and PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI).
These organizations have produced scoping studies and advocacy briefs to disseminate their findings as well as to advocate for women’s SRHR to be included in the countries’ National Adaptation Plans of Action. They are available for download on the ARROW website, and are also linked below.
Scoping Studies
Advocacy Briefs
Indonesia – English and Bahasa Indonesia
For more information and interviews, contact Hwei Mian Lim at hweimian@arrow.org.my or +603 2273 9913
Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
