April 29, 2013

House Dems Push Resolution Warning Climate Change Leads Women To Pursue 'Transactional Sex'

A number of House Democrats are pushing their colleagues to support a resolution acknowledging that unchecked climate change impacts women more than it does men, and can force impoverished women around the globe to engage in prostitution in order to survive. “[F]ood-insecure women with limited socioeconomic resources may be vulnerable to situations such as sex work, transactional sex, and early marriage that put them at risk for HIV, STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and poor reproductive health,” the resolution reads. 

The resolution, “Recognizing the disparate impact of climate change on women and the efforts of women globally to address climate change,” is sponsored by a dozen House Democrats including Sen. Barbara Lee (D-CA). The resolution indicates that the world’s poor and female populations will be disproportionately impacted by the effects of global warming.

Lee told The Hill in a statement that the resolution is part of a push to design “gender-specific frameworks in developing policies to address climate change.” Furthermore, Lee adds, the resolution is a step towards encouraging President Barack Obama to “integrate a gender approach in all policies and programs.”

To read this article in its original format, go here.