Civil society organizations in Türkiye gain insights on gender-responsive climate action and disaster management
Date:
Representatives from civil society organizations at the “Gender, Climate Change, and Disasters” training in İzmir, Türkiye. Photo: UN Women / Ebru Demirel
Climate change is a “threat multiplier”, escalating social, political, and economic tensions in fragile settings. Our world is facing intensified climate events like floods, cyclones, heatwaves, and wildfires, which increase the risk of sudden and catastrophic disasters. These events disrupt lives, property, and the environment, overwhelming community resilience, especially when hazards meet vulnerable conditions. Women, girls, children, and other groups suffering from inequalities are disproportionately affected, often facing unique challenges and heightened risks to their livelihoods, health, and safety.
From a feminist perspective, climate change isn’t just environmental but also a social justice issue, exacerbating gender inequalities. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in incorporating women’s voices and experiences in climate action, advocating for gender-responsive policies that address the specific needs, vulnerabilities, and capacities of women and girls.
Acknowledging the importance of urgent action on climate and disaster risk reduction from a gender equality perspective, UN Women Türkiye Office has formulated a capacity development programme targeting CSOs. The “Gender, Climate Change, and Disasters” programme aims to enhance the advocacy and monitoring capacities of CSOs in integrating gender perspectives in the management of climate change and disasters. The first training was held in Ankara with the participation of 28 members of CSOs across Türkiye in December 2023. The second training was also successfully concluded in İzmir in June 2024 with the participation of 28 CSO members, including women’s CSOs and youth-led organizations.
Held over three days, the training provided critical guidance on international frameworks and national legislation related to climate change and disaster risk reduction from a gender perspective. Led by UN Women Consultants, lawyer Özlem Altıparmak and gender expert Zehra Tosun, the trainings covered methods for CSOs to effectively engage in advocacy and monitoring processes. Participants received valuable insights into integrating gender perspectives within their organizations’ activities, particularly in the contexts of climate change and disaster risks.
“Evaluating gender-based inequality in the context of climate change and disasters has broadened my understanding of the violence faced by women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Gender-based violence is a vast topic, and it is crucial for rights defenders to comprehend the impact of recent natural disasters on intersectional groups. Our facilitators, Özlem and Zehra, demonstrated expertise and were thorough in their explanations. The training enabled me to grasp the subjects more effectively.”
Günçe Çetin - Foundation for Women’s Solidarity, participant
Image
“We have completed the three-day training focused on approaching disaster risk reduction and management from a gender equality perspective. We may all be facing the same storm, but we are not in the same boat. Achieving climate justice requires collective and inclusive approaches, not just individual efforts. By mainstreaming gender equality, we can make disaster risk reduction and management processes more equitable and effective. With this perspective, we must work together to build more resilient communities and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Upholding the principles of justice and equality, we can create a stronger and more resilient world in the face of climate change.”
Çisem Şendeniz - Gola Culture,Art&Ecology Assoc.,participant
Image
“We developed this training programme based on the needs and demands of our civil society partners and activists. During our consultations they have shared their first hand experience on how disasters increasingly change the lives of women and girls, and unfortunately for worse. Through this programme, civil society organizations are equipped with skills, knowledge and tools on gender-responsive climate action, crisis response, and disaster risk reduction for inclusive and resilient societies to tackle the changes posed by climate change and disasters,” says Ebru Ağduk, Programme Specialist at UN Women.
The programme will continue to support civil society organizations to sustain their advocacy efforts in climate action, crises response and disaster risk reduction.
Gender, Climate Change, and Disasters” training was implemented within the “Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality” project implemented by UN Women with financial support from the European Union.
