Climate Displacement and Social Insecurity: A Socio-Legal Examination of Gender-Based Violence Against Women in South Asia

Abstract

Climate-induced displacement has emerged as a significant human rights concern in South Asia, disproportionately affecting women and increasing their exposure to gender-based violence. Environmental disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, and rising sea levels have contributed significantly to social disruption, forced migration, and economic insecurity across the region. Frequently, women who become victims of climate-related displacements suffer increased risks of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and lack of proper institutional protection. The present paper explores the interdependence between climate displacement and violence against women due to social insecurity in South Asia, focusing primarily on India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The focus is on analyzing the impact of the CEDAW and other national legislations which deal with issues of violence against women in addressing these challenges faced by women in such circumstances. The gaps in compliance of the international obligations, inadequacy of institutional measures, lack of adequate access to justice and absence of appropriate legal instruments on these issues is revealed through this research. In addition to that, patriarchal societal structures, poverty and other intersecting discriminations increase the plight of women who have experienced climate-induced displacement. Through this paper, the author emphasizes the need to adopt a gender-sensitive and rights-based approach to address legal problems related to these challenges.