Prelims: Current events of National and International Importance | Social development
Why in News?
A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health highlights that prolonged droughts in low- and middle-income countries are linked to increased risks of sexual violence against women.
Key Findings
- Prolonged droughts (lasting 8–43 months in a 4-year period) linked to increased risk of sexual violence against women and teenage girls.
- Even very dry periods, without being extreme, increase vulnerability to sexual violence.
- The first population-level study showing direct correlation between environmental stress and sexual violence risk outside intimate relationships.
Impact on Rural Communities
- Rural women and girls in low- and middle-income countries most affected.
- Droughts reduce resources and livelihood options, forcing women to:
- Walking long distances for water.
- Migrate to unfamiliar regions.
- Face pressure for early marriage to reduce household burdens.
Water Insecurity as a Form of Violence
- Women in Indonesia and Peru described the extreme burden of fetching water during droughts as a form of violence.
- Water insecurity linked to adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
- Previous studies showed extreme weather events like storms, landslides, and floods increase domestic and intimate partner violence.
Reference
The Hindu| Prolonged Droughts and Sexual Violence Against Women
