RURAL women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change, says the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa.
She was speaking at Garvey Park in Tavua yesterday to mark the 2019 Rural Women’s Day.
“Women, due to historical discrimination and biases in both the formal and informal labour markets as well as cultural and social practices, have less assets, income, and savings to deal with the loss and damages from extreme weather events,” said Mrs Vuniwaqa.
She said more women died when compared with men during a natural disaster.
“The effects of climate change also place rural women and girls at greater risks for bodily injury, rape and harassment when they must travel further and further away from home to secure household drinking water, fuel and food.”
This year’s theme for Rural Women Day is ‘Rural women and girls building climate resilience’.
