Women’s Struggles Drought and Desertification

_{Image Credit: UN News}

Women’s land rights are in the spotlight ahead of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed on 17 June, at events around the world, from Kenya to Viet Nam, including a high-level event at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday. “Equal land rights both protect land and advance gender equality,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, in a video message, urging all governments to eliminate legal barriers to women owning land, and to involve them in policy making.

During droughts, women’s responsibilities within households and communities tend to increase dramatically. As water becomes scarce, women often bear the primary responsibility of securing water for daily needs, such as cooking, drinking, and hygiene. This places additional physical and emotional stress on women, as they travel long distances, sometimes facing dangerous conditions, in search of water sources. Consequently, women have less time for education, employment, and other opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of limited empowerment and economic disadvantage.

Furthermore, the scarcity of water impacts women’s health and well-being. Inadequate access to clean water can lead to sanitation challenges, posing risks to women’s hygiene, health, and reproductive rights. The absence of proper sanitation facilities disproportionately affects women’s dignity, privacy, and safety, particularly during menstruation.

Desertification, the degradation of once fertile land into desert-like conditions, further compounds the hardships faced by women. As arable land becomes barren, agricultural activities decline, impacting food security and livelihoods. Women, who often play a vital role in subsistence farming and food production, face increased challenges in providing for their families. The loss of crops and grazing lands disrupts women’s ability to generate income and support their communities.

Ahead of the international day, UNCCD launched the HerLand campaign to raise awareness about women making a difference now and the challenges ahead. When given equal access, women and girls can increase agricultural productivity, restore land, and build resilience to drought, according to UNCCD.

Re-reported from the story originally published in UN News