Climate Change raises cases of violence against women, Malawi study reveals

A research by the Glasgow Caledonian University’s Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice in Malawi shows that cases of violence against women have increased as a result of the negative impacts of climate change in Africa

At a presentation made yesterday during the ongoing Africa Climate Week in Libreville,Gabon, researchers have found evidence that climate change is making gender-based violence and mental-health problems worse for the most vulnerable women in Malawi.

The study revealed that as many as 8 in 10 women surveyed admitted their mental health and wellbeing as being impacted negatively by climate change.

“These testimonies are harrowing and provide clear evidence that climate change does contribute to changes in mental health and issues of violence faced by women,” said Prof Tahseen Jafry, Director of the Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice.

The researchers say Malawi, in south-eastern Africa, is highly vulnerable to climate change and can experience extreme and unpredictable weather events such as drought, flooding and cyclones.

This can cause loss of life and contribute towards food shortages, destruction of livelihoods, displacement, and deepening poverty, all of which, the researchers say, negatively impact the population’s physical and mental health.

The study, funded by the Scottish Government, gathered data through surveys and one-on-one interviews with local women who are bearing the brunt of gender-based violence and mental health.

Read more on this: https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/universitynews/climate-change-makes-violence-against-women-in-malawi-worse,