A study by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) has been published, resulting from work at a seminar titled Climate Injustice Vs Gender Justice: Why should this matter? revealing the adverse effect of climate change negatively affecting 90% of women of coastal regions of Bagerhat and Satkhira districts, in South-West Bangladesh

The study identifies connections between human rights and climate change, based on factors including gender, race, caste, ethnicity, and financial level. Using 17 case studies from Mongla Upzila in the Bagerat district and Shyamnagar Upzila in the Satkhira district (age range: 35-60), the study identified more than 90% of women in these districts have been affected by cyclones, riverbank erosion, and storm surges, causing loss and devastation alongside health concerns. Further results identified;

Mongla Upzila

• 88.8% affected by cyclones
• 64% of women had reproductive health issues
• 45.5% by salinity
• 48.8% by river bank erosion

Shyamnagar Upzila

• 97% affected by cyclones
• 54% of women had reproductive health issues
• 53% by storm surges
• 53% by salinity.

Additional Findings

• Many women in such regions have lost their ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uteri
• 50% of students in Shyamnagar Upzila and 38.3% of students in Mongla Upzila left school before completing their high school educations, resulting in higher cases of child marriage

For more information please download the summary of the findings.

Image Source: Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune