Climate change hits women's health harder, activists want leaders to address it at COP28
Manju Devi suffered in pain for two months last year as she worked on a farm near Delhi, unable to break away from duties that sometimes had her standing for hours in the waist-deep water of a rice paddy, lifting heavy loads in intense heat and spraying pesticides and insecticides. When that pain finally became too much to bear, she was rushed to a hospital.
The doctors’ verdict: Devi had suffered a prolapsed uterus and would need a hysterectomy. She hadn’t said a word to her family about her discomfort because of societal taboo over discussing a “women's illness,” and with two grown children and three grandchildren looking to the 56-year-old widow to help put food on the table, Devi had relied on painkillers to stay in the fields.
“I endured excruciating pain for months, scared to speak about it publicly. It shouldn’t take a surgical procedure to make us realize the cost of increasing heat,” she said, surrounded by women who told of undergoing a similar ordeal.
As the annual U.N.-led climate summit known as COP is set to convene later this month in Dubai, activists are urging policymakers to respond to climate change’s disproportionate impact on women and girls, especially where poverty makes them more vulnerable.
Their recommendations include securing land rights for women, promoting women's cooperatives and encouraging women to lead on developing climate policy. They also suggest that countries — especially developing countries like India — commit more money in their budgets to ensure gender equity in climate policies.
Group of 20 leaders who met in New Delhi in September also recognized the problem, calling for accelerating climate action with gender equality at its core by increasing women’s participation and leadership in mitigation and adaptation.
Devi is a farm worker in Syaraul, a village of about 7,000 a couple of hours southeast of Delhi in Uttar Pradesh, India's biggest and most populous state. Several other middle-aged and older women from the village described similar injuries leading to hysterectomies.
The link between phenomena like uterine prolapse and climate change is indirect but significant, said Seema Bhaskaran, who tracks gender issues for the nonprofit Transform Rural India Foundation.
“Women in rural, climate-affected communities often bear the brunt of physically demanding agricultural work, made more strenuous by climate change-related challenges like erratic weather and increased labor needs," Bhaskaran said. “While climate change doesn’t directly cause uterine prolapse, it magnifies the underlying health challenges and conditions that make women more susceptible to such health issues.”
About 150 kilometers (93 miles) away, in Nanu village, 62-year-old farm worker Savita Singh blames climate change for a chemical infection that cost her a finger in August 2022.
When her husband moved to Delhi to work as a plumber, she was left alone to tend the couple's fields. As rice and wheat yields fell due to shifting climate patterns and a surge in pest attacks, Singh's husband, who retained decision-making power, decided to increase the use of pesticides and insecticides. It was up to Singh, who had opposed the increases, to apply the chemicals.
“With the rise in pest attacks in farms, we have started using more than three times pesticides and fertilizers in our farms and without any safety gears my hand got burned by the chemicals and one of my fingers had to be amputated,” she said.
In Pilakhana, another Uttar Pradesh village, 22-year-old wage laborer Babita Kumari suffered stillbirths in 2021 and this year that she attributes to the heavy lifting she endured daily in working a brick kiln for long hours in intense heat. Climate change at least doubled the chances of the heat wave that hit the state this year, according to an analysis by Climate Central, an independent U.S.-based group of scientists that developed a tool to quantify climate change's contribution to changing daily temperatures.
“My mother and her mother all have worked in brick kilns all their lives but the heat was not this bad even though they worked for more than eight hours like me. But for the past six-seven years the situation has worsened and heat has become unbearable to withstand but what option do we have than to endure it,” said Kumari, who lives in a makeshift camp with her husband.
Bhaskaran noted that women in India often assume primary roles in agriculture while men migrate to urban areas, which makes the women especially vulnerable to the direct effects of climate change. A government labor force survey for 2021-22 found that 75% of the people working in agriculture are women. But only about 14% of agricultural land is owned by women, according to a government agriculture census.
For Bhaskaran, it adds up to a picture of women sacrificing their health by working long hours in intense heat, exposed to insecticides and pesticides, and with uncertain access to clean water. On top of that, many are undernourished because they "often eat last and least within patriarchal structures,” she said.
Poonam Muttreja is a women's rights activist who also directs the Population Foundation of India, a non-governmental organization that focuses on issues of population, family planning, reproductive health, and gender equality. She said it's essential that COP28, the meeting in Dubai, take concrete action to help women.
She said COP28 should go beyond providing financial aid, and actively promote and facilitate the inclusion of gender considerations within all climate-related policies, initiatives, and actions.
“It must prioritize awareness programs that emphasize the specific health challenges women face in the wake of climate change as a critical step towards increasing public knowledge. These efforts will also serve as a call to action for governments, institutions, and communities to prioritize women’s health and well-being as a central component of their climate initiatives,” she added.
Anjal Prakash, a professor and the research director at the Bharat Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, coordinated a working group that examined gender for a recent assessment by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He said it will take international pressure to overcome some countries that may quietly oppose gender-sensitive climate policies due to conservative ideologies and political barriers.
Finding money will also be a formidable challenge, he said.
Shweta Narayan, a researcher and environmental justice activist at Health Care Without Harm, said women, children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable to extreme climate events. She saw reason for optimism at COP28 because of a dedicated Health Day at the conference.
“Definitely there is a very clear recognition that climate has a health impact and health needs to be considered more seriously,” she said. AP
Eco corridor in community forests to draw tourists
Activities based on wildlife contributing to tourism are thriving lately at Nawalpur. The community forests in the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) have become popular for sightseeing.
With the activities growing on eco-tourism, the number of tourists has also increased here.
From Gaidakot to Triveni Forest, the buffer zone of CNP is visited for seeing wild animals and birds. Jungle safari is popular, according to Chairman of Dhakaha buffer zone community forest, Nar Bahadur Mahato.
"We have prioritized tourism because tourists visit here to see wildlife. Jungle safari is a major choice," he said, adding that the fee generated from tourists is the forest's income.
Aquatic birds found in the Narayani River and other streams attract visitors. Diversity in wildlife is a special feature in this area, including CNP.
Mahato further informed that even an 'eco corridor' was set up to lure tourists. The corridor stretches over 2,020 hectares of land straddling various community forests. The trail is also determined for the convenience of tourists.
Moreover, four other community forests under Sishbar Consumers' Committee in the buffer zone are also planning for the eco corridor. Management of the meadows and wetlands is also paid attention by the consumers' committee.
The indigenous settlements near the forest are also promoting homestay. Central chairman of Homestay Association, Premshankar Mardaniyar Tharu, informed that the number of households running homestays and hotels targeting tourists has also increased in recent times.
Currently, there are more than half dozen homestays near community forests in the buffer zone. The number of such homestays would be increased, Chaudhari shared.
Couple electrocuted while fishing in Pokhara
A couple died of electrocution in Pokhara.
The deceased have been identified as Bhim Lal Sunar (46) and his spouse Sabitri Sunar (46) of Jomsom, Mustang and currently residing at Patane of Pokhara metropolis-29, according to police.
The incident occurred when they were fishing in a stream using electric current.
A police team was mobilized immediately after receiving the information about the incident.
The Sunar couple was rushed to the regional hospital, but they were declared dead soon after their arrival.
DSP at District Police Office, Kaski, Shravan Kumar BK, said the bodies of the couple have been kept at Paschimanchal Regional Hospital for postmortem.
NHRC urges government to ensure child rights
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the three-tier governments to fully ensure child rights.
Issuing a press release on Monday on the occasion of World Children's Day, the NHRC urged the three-tier government, citing the governments have not been able to guarantee the provisions of child rights envisaged by the international Conventions, Nepal's constitution and law.
It has also urged them to comply with different national and international laws related to child rights, take action against those involved in violating child rights, protect child rights by guaranteeing basic rights of children and to carry out necessary activities to run child correction centers in a systematic manner.
Similarly, the NHRC has asked all citizens, guardians, political parties, right activists and general people to carry out works in a result-oriented manner for the protection and advocacy of child rights.
The rights watch dog has urged the three-tier governments to pay special attention on various issues including difficulties in birth registration of children and identity, child labor, deprivation of health and education, risk of trafficking, victim of sexual violence.
The NHRC pointed out that the children taking shelter with their parents in jail are fully deprived of human rights and that the child correction centers are not human rights friendly.
Yuwa Sangh, Durga Prasain group prohibited from holding protest assemblies at Maitighar on Nov 23
Yuwa Sangh Nepal, the youth wing of the CPN-UML, and controversial businessman Durga Prasain will not be allowed to hold protest assemblies at Maitighar on Thursday (November 23).
The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has decided not to allow both sides to organize programs at Maitighar Mandala.
Assistant Chief District Officer of the District Administration Office Rabindra Prasad Acharya said that the decision has been made to not allow any groups to organize assemblies at Maitighar Mandala on Thursday.
He said that both the groups have been informed about the decision.
“We held a meeting with both sides. We have already told them that they will not be allowed to organize protest activities at the same place,” Acharya said.
Yuwa Sangh and Durga Prasain have been saying that they will hold programs at Maitighar on Thursday.
Saying that there could be a security threat if both sides organize programs at the same place, Acharya said that the Administration has asked both sides to look for another place.
He said that the Administration will designate a suitable place for both sides to organize programs.
Royal Bengal tiger found dead in Chitwan
A Royal Bengal tiger has been found dead in the Hariyali Community Forest in Chitwan.
The female tiger of around six to seven years old was found dead in the community forest under the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park (CNP) at Bharatpur Municipality-27 this morning, said CNP Information Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari.
According to Tiwari, it is suspected that the tiger might have died due to a fight with another tiger.
A team of CNP has brought the dead tigress to Kasara for postmortem.
There are 128 tigers in CNP as per a tiger census conducted in 2022.
Nepse surges by 1. 39 points on Monday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 1. 39 points to close at 1, 853.48 points on Monday.
Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0.50 points to close at 356. 54 points.
A total of 3,319,558-unit shares of 284 companies were traded for Rs 1. 09 billion.
Meanwhile, Global IME Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 98 percent. Similarly, Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Sayapatri Hydropower Limited were the top losers as their price fell by 10.00 percent.
At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 85 trillion.
Güner Ureya: There are opportunities for collaboration
Güner Ureya is the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Bangladesh. He is also mandated to look after Nepal, though Kosovo and Nepal are yet to establish a formal diplomatic relationship. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx spoke with him during his recent Nepal visit.
What is the status of Kosovo’s relation with South Asian countries?
As the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, I followed the developments and general trends in other South Asian countries as well. I would like to emphasize that we are satisfied with our cordial relations with all South Asian countries that have so far recognized Kosovo. I’m following the remaining part of the region, including Nepal. I can say that we have the potential to develop official relations with Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. General developments in South Asian countries in recent years have drawn our attention.
The cultural diversity and richness, but also the overall potential of South Asian countries with a population of around 1.9bn, are worth exploring more. Unfortunately, we as Kosovo do not have G2G and diplomatic relations with four South Asian nations, I mean with Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Especially in the Indian position, I saw the traces of the versions fabricated by our neighbor Serbia. We need to better explain to Indians about Serbia’s hegemonic policies and atrocities in former Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so they can understand us better. Another non-recognizer of Kosovo in South Asia is Nepal. I witnessed that Nepalis are very friendly to us, maybe because of similarities we have. On the other hand, our relationship with Sri Lanka is very similar to that of Nepal. I also tried to follow Colombo’s official position on us. Sri Lanka is open to communication, but unfortunately has not yet officially recognized Kosovo. Beside Kathmandu, New Delhi and Colombo, we always anticipate positive news from Thimphu as well.
How do you see the current state of Nepal-Kosovo relationship?
Nepal has yet to officially recognize the independence of the Republic of Kosovo, and the two nations do not have diplomatic ties. This suggests that the foundation for establishing formal diplomatic ties between the two nations has not yet been laid. Additionally, it means that the conditions remain limited for institutional cooperation and for having different win-win situations. It’s essential to note that, with a positive mindset from both sides, the landscape can change, and Kosovo-Nepal relations can evolve over time. So it is possible but it is also expected that Nepal will recognize Kosovo in the near future. So far, people-to-people contacts and cooperation between the civil societies of the two countries are more successful than our corporate initiatives. Regrettably, the current level of trade cooperation between the two countries is quite limited, but if we establish formal bilateral relations, it would naturally bring new prospects and opportunities for negotiating and implementing bilateral agreements across various sectors and collaborating on international platforms.
The existence of these official relations would also shape public perceptions, fostering increased interest and closeness between the people, companies, artists, sports clubs, and other social entities, which is why we attach great importance to gaining recognition from Nepal and establishing diplomatic ties with your country.
What are the areas of cooperation between Nepal and Kosovo?
To clarify, as an independent country, the Republic of Kosovo is actively seeking to enhance cooperation with reliable partners. There are significant opportunities for collaboration between Kosovo and Nepal. For instance, consider the case of Bangladesh, a South Asian nation, which recognized Kosovo a few years ago, and we have since developed a close and friendly relationship with them. Similarly, we aim to establish a similar bond with Nepal. The potential for cooperation extends to various sectors, including education, economy, and particularly agriculture. As a relatively new country, we have achieved notable success in sports, and we are keen to share our experiences with Nepal in this regard.
To that end, we are persistently working to tell our narratives to Nepal. We want to convey that Kosovars share a deep love for peace, that we have a vibrant population with the youngest median age in Europe, and that there is ample room for us to develop both bilateral relations and collaborate on international platforms. Up to this point, individuals from civil society have played a crucial role in promoting our relationship. On the flip side, Kosovar companies have begun to recruit labor from South Asian countries, including Nepal, and they have expressed satisfaction with the overall performance and humanitarian behavior of Nepali employees.
Nepal is delaying to recognize Kosovo, what could be the reasons?
It's never too late. I hope recognition comes soon. Throughout my tenure of four years in South Asia, I have also tried to follow Kathmandu’s political position on us. I witnessed that Nepalese are very friendly to us. Kathmandu is open for communication. Unfortunately, it has yet to extend official recognition to the Republic of Kosovo's independence. As I’ve become more acquainted with Nepal over time, I’ve come to appreciate it as the homeland of friendly, proud, and respectful people. Nepalese individuals, in general, tend to approach decisions with care and caution but always exude friendliness, a positive aura, and a warm smile.
Similar to Nepal, some other countries initially hesitated to recognize independence of Kosovo, but with time, they realized that recognizing the Republic of Kosovo was the right course of action. This recognition holds significance for peace and stability in the Balkan Peninsula, or, in other words, in Southeast Europe. The independence of the Republic of Kosovo rectified historical injustices, put an end to Serbian occupation, and brought peace and freedom to its people. We are aware that Serbia, a country with which we had fought for our freedom and still have disputes, employs various tactics and unfounded arguments to weaken Kosovo's international position.
To put it briefly, Nepal is an independent, sovereign, free and egalitarian country, so it determines its foreign policy preferences. We all know that countries have their own set of priorities. Our hope is that Nepal officially recognizes Kosovo as soon as possible.
What are the similarities and differences between Nepal and Kosovo?
Nepal and Kosovo, two geographically distant countries, share notable similarities and few differences. We share several common experiences and characteristics. Both are landlocked countries, have multi-ethnic populations, mountainous terrain, and youthful demographics. Moreover, both Kosovo and Nepal boast breathtaking landscapes and dynamic societies. My perceptions of Nepal before were shaped by three elements: firstly, the civil war in the 90s; then, the Himalayas, especially Mount Everest; and also Gurkhas from Nepal, who served as peacekeepers after the war in Kosovo. It is not difficult for us to empathize with Nepal, because we have common elements that remind us of our suffering, but also of our qualities.
Both countries and peoples have gone through difficult times. We have always tried to ease our pain by talking to the mountains and singing to the trees, rocks, and rivers. Although not as great as the Himalayas, our Sharr Mountains are nonetheless extremely lovely. As differences Nepal and Kosovo have their own historical narratives and political dynamics. These differences are unique and it reflects our distinct identities, cultures, and geopolitical contexts. Kosovo reflects a blend of Western and Eastern European influences, while Nepal boasts a rich tapestry of languages and customs of Eastern South Asia.
Despite our differences, Nepal and Kosovo can develop close relations through various means, mainly diplomatic engagement, cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and people-to-people connections. Ultimately, trust, goodwill, and open communication are key to fostering close ties and cooperation between Nepal and Kosovo.
Could you tell us a little about the historical process so that our readers can understand it better?
To understand how Kosovo achieved independence, it is essential to comprehend its history. In 1989, Belgrade abolished Kosovo’s autonomy and two years later, as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) disintegrated, Kosovo lost its status as a federal entity in the ex-country with rights similar to those of the six republics. During the 1990s Kosovo and its institutions were under the Serbian occupation. Serbian authorities consistently discriminated against the majority of Kosovar population, excluding them from governance and public life, along with exclusion from the health and educational system.
In reaction, the Kosovo leadership under Ibrahim Rugova pursued a policy of peaceful resistance for several years, before the lack of progress led to the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army and armed struggle. This, in turn, encouraged the Serbians to exercise more pressure against the Kosovars. Following a failed attempt to negotiate a settlement at Rambouillet, France, in March 1999, NATO decided to stop humanitarian crises in Kosovo and intervened in Serbian targets. During the Serbian atrocities more than half of the Kosovars became refugees or internally displaced. After the war, the problems were tried to be solved through negotiations. But after all the attempts, the UN special envoy, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, gave the green light for the status of Kosovo, as a ‘sui generis’ case.
Although Serbia, Russia and some other countries insist on denying the truth, Kosovo's independence has become an irreversible fact. It should be noted that, more than half of member countries of the UN have recognized the independence of the Republic of Kosovo. The majority of these countries are geographically close to Kosovo and they realized that the case is unique and cannot be used as a precedent for other cases.
In addition, they considered the peace and stability of the region as well as their own peace and stability. On the other side, the International Court of Justice ruled that the declaration of independence of Kosovo was not in violation of international
