Climate change contributes to violence against children

Climate change contributes to violence against children

News: A recent study highlights how climate change contributes to violence against children.

How Climate change contributes to violence against children?
• Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural hazards and disasters, such as floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires. These events can disrupt the normal functioning of society and create conditions of stress, insecurity, and displacement for children and their families. This can expose children to higher risks of physical, sexual, and emotional violence, both within and outside their homes.
• Climate change affects the availability and quality of natural resources, such as water, land, and food. This can lead to conflicts, competition, and scarcity among different groups of people, especially in regions where resources are already limited or contested. Children may become targets or participants of violence in these situations, or they may be forced to migrate or flee from their homes.
• Climate change impacts the livelihoods and incomes of many people, especially those who depend on agriculture, fishing. This can increase the poverty and vulnerability of children and their families, and reduce their access to education, health care, and social protection. Children may face increased pressure to work or engage in hazardous or exploitative activities, such as child labour, trafficking, or early marriage.
• As temperature will rise and cause subsequent impact on food systems, infants will bear the most burden of malnutrition and rising food prices.

What approach should be followed to protect the children?
• Develop context-specific policies that recognize the link between climate change and violence against children.
• Offer counselling, play therapy, and mental health services to help children cope with anxiety and stress.
• GendFocus on preventing child marriage, human trafficking, and gender-based violence exacerbated by climate change.
• Integrate climate change awareness and preparedness into school curriculum to empower children with knowledge and skills to face climate-related challenges.
• Children centric disaster management should be evolved.