A new analysis reveals a disturbing link between Prolonged drought and rising incidents of sexual violence against women and girls in low- and middle‑income countries. The study, drawing on decades of data and interviews across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, highlights how climate-induced pressures—including scarcity of food and water, loss of livelihoods, and displacement—compound vulnerabilities and intensify gender-based violence.
Key findings indicate that during drought episodes, women and girls are compelled to undertake longer, riskier journeys to secure basic necessities like water, food, and firewood. These treks, often through remote and dangerous territories, significantly increase their exposure to sexual assault. In some documented instances, men in positions of power—such as landlords or aid providers—have demanded sex in exchange for food or rent.
Within households, financial and emotional stress stemming from lost incomes often triggers a surge in intimate partner violence (IPV). As men grapple with the frustration of failing to fulfill their traditional role as family providers, rates of alcohol consumption rise—and with it, physical and sexual aggression toward partners .
The consequences extend beyond immediate physical danger. Young girls under economic strain are more likely to be pushed into early marriages and child labour. The report underscores how this strategy—marriage as a coping mechanism—leaves girls vulnerable to exploitation and long-term harm .
Quantitative data from sub‑Saharan Africa reflects this trend: women living through prolonged drought conditions report significantly higher rates of both controlling behavior by partners and forced sexual encounters. Meanwhile, research from India shows a rise in IPV during drought periods, with rural women experiencing increased physical violence and urban women facing elevated levels of sexual violence and restricting behaviour from partners .
Drought-related stress also correlates with a troubling rise in transactional sex, as families and individuals exchange intimate acts for essential resources. Reports from communities in Uganda, Angola, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe describe scenarios where girls as young as 14 resort to survival sex under extreme conditions .
Health repercussions are grim: prolonged droughts are linked not only to rising rates of sexual violence but also to increased transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections—especially among displaced women and those resorting to transactional sex.
Experts warn that this intersection of climate crisis and sexual violence isn’t anecdotal—it’s systemic. One study estimates that for every 1 °C increase in temperature, intimate partner violence rises by approximately 4.7% . The overarching consensus stresses that combating climate change without addressing gender-based violence misses a critical dimension, perpetuating a “shadow pandemic” of gendered harm .
Efforts underway to curb the issue include integrating gender-violence prevention into climate adaptation programs. One UNDP and Green Climate Fund pilot in Ugandan wetland communities combines support for livelihoods with training in gender-equitable attitudes and violence referral pathways . In the Caribbean and Mozambique, Spotlight Initiative partners have embedded sexual-violence screening and response into disaster-risk frameworks to better protect women during climate shocks .
Still, experts call for clear, actionable steps: governments should implement social safety nets—such as emergency cash transfers and subsidised employment—during droughts, bolstered by public awareness of heightened risk to women. Policies must be gender-responsive, combining climate mitigation with protections for women and girls. Early-warning systems should incorporate violence-risk indicators alongside environmental data .
In conclusion, as climate extremes intensify, their impact transcends environmental domains—deepening societal inequities and exposing women and girls to escalating violence. To safeguard vulnerable communities, especially in poorer nations, policymakers and humanitarian agencies must embed gender-sensitive interventions within broader climate resilience planning. Without it, drought will continue to dry up not only water sources but also the safety and dignity of countless women and girls worldwide.
