Climate stress exacerbates structural barriers to ending female genital mutilation
Original framing: “When climate pressures deepen, the fight against violence becomes harder” — The Conversation - Global
Scientific research shows that FGM has severe health consequences and is often linked to poverty and lack of education. Climate stress exacerbates these conditions, but scientific evidence also shows that community-based education and legal enforcement can reduce FGM prevalence.
Climate pressures amplify the challenges of ending FGM by straining resources and weakening social institutions, but they are not the root cause.
Historical and cross-cultural analysis reveals that gender-based violence is deeply embedded in patriarchal systems that predate climate change. Indigenous and local knowledge, when included, can offer holistic solutions that address both environmental and social dimensions. To move forward, interventions must be community-led, legally supported, and culturally sensitive, integrating climate resilience with gender equity. Only by addressing the structural causes of both climate vulnerability and gender-based violence can we create sustainable change.