The Beijing India Report: A Milestone and an Opportunity for Gender-Climate Integration

Social Issues Social Inequalities and exclusion

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-04-15 09:14:38 |

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“It breaks my heart to see girls dropping out of school due to climate change and migration,” says a didi from Dhanelikanhar village in Kanker, Chhattisgarh. Her words echo a sobering truth: the intersection of climate change and gender inequality is increasingly becoming one of the greatest challenges of our time. Vulnerable communities, especially women and girls in rural India, are disproportionately affected by environmental crises, which disrupt education, health, and economic stability.

The year 2025 will mark 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action — a landmark global commitment to achieving gender equality. This international framework has helped India take considerable steps in addressing gender disparities across 12 critical areas, including education, health, economic participation, and political empowerment. It led to the passage of important legislation such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH).

However, the implementation of these policies often lags behind, and the lived experiences of many women remain marked by inequality and vulnerability. India’s Beijing+30 report, officially known as the Beijing India Report 2024, reflects progress, but it also exposes an important gap: the lack of a strong climate lens in gender-related policies and reporting.

Climate change is not gender-neutral. Women, particularly in rural areas, face unique risks — from the burden of water collection during droughts to increased gender-based violence during natural disasters and displacement. Their voices, however, are often missing from climate conversations and decision-making processes.

This gap is not just a missed detail — it is a missed opportunity. Integrating climate considerations into gender policies can help build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. The Beijing India Report 2024 must evolve beyond traditional gender metrics and consider climate as a critical dimension of equality. Doing so will ensure that the promises made 30 years ago are adapted to today’s realities and are better equipped to safeguard the rights, dignity, and future of India’s women and girls.

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