Laleye Dipo in Minna
As the World marks this year’s World Population Day, it has been asserted that women and girls are becoming more exposed to gender based violence as a result of climate change.
Other groups more vulnerable to negative effects of climate change include the physically challenged, people living with disabilities and youths.
Speaking at an event to mark the World Population Day in Minna, Niger State, with the theme, “Safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now,” the Executive Director of Esteemedhub Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Doosugh Agbadu, noted that the category of people were also vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence, human trafficking, child marriage, and other forms of abuse.
Agbadu, added that Niger State has also experienced climate change-related challenges including flooding, which she said had resulted in the loss of lives, farmlands, property, and livelihoods.
She, therefore asked the state and local governments to take urgent steps to address the challenge, especially now that the rains have peaked in several parts of the state by providing lasting solutions to flooding in the state, and better conditions for IDPs.
“No person (especially women, the youth and the vulnerable) should be made to bear the uneven burden of the environmental hazards resulting from climate change while others remain protected and even unaware that anything is happening,” she added.
As an activist for climate justice, Agbadu recommended that a deliberate effort should be made to ameliorate the challenge in order to protect those who suffer unnecessary negative effect of climate change.
She stressed that, “women in agriculture are working hard to put in place measures to sustain their livelihood and provide income and resources for their families and should therefore not be made to suffer the negative effects of climate change.”
She lamented that, “For years, Niger State has experienced climate change-related challenges such as flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives, farmlands, property, and livelihoods,” saying efforts should be made to check the trend.
The United Nation set aside July 11, every year to be observed as the World Population Day, to reaffirm the human right to plan for a family among others.
