Role of climate change in exarcebating gender based violence in Teso region

Abstract

Teso region is one of the regions highly affected by the changing and varying climate trends. This region has also registered high cases of gender-based violence (GBV) over the years. This study aimed at analyzing the trend in climate change and variability, trend in Gender based violence and gendered perceptions in climate change and role of climate change in exacerbating gender-based violence in Teso region. Mann Kendall trend method was applied to determine the trend of climate change, climate variability of rainfall and temperature and the trend of GBV in Teso region. The questionnaire approach was also used to attain gendered perceptions of climate change and its role in exacerbating gender-based violence. Findings from the study indicate that the climate variables of rainfall and temperature in Teso region are changing variably. On top of that, the results of the study found that gender based violence cases decrease with an increase in rainfall trend and increase with an increase in temperature trends. Furthermore, the study also confirmed that climate change exacerbates gender based violence since most of the Iteso depend on natural resources for their livelihood and most of them rely on climate fed agriculture for their income and livelihood. The study recommends raising awareness of climate induced gender based violence, building of climate resilience among the masses, allocation of sufficient resources to alleviate climate induced gender based violence recognizing it as a critical issue in climate change adaptation and mitigation, strengthening and enforce legal frame works and existing laws and policies on gender based violence as well as adapt new policies address climate induced gender based violence.