MENA region: Climate and SRHR

On May 27, 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at the “Lunch Lecture: Stories from the MENA Region – The Climate Crisis and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights,” hosted by the WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform. As a WOSSO Fellow and advocate from Yemen, this event provided a critical platform to bring forward voices from the margins and share emerging evidence from the field.During the session, I presented findings from a recent study in Yemen, which explores how climate change is worsening the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) crisis for women and girls. The study reveals that climate-induced displacement, loss of livelihoods, and water insecurity are not gender-neutral. Instead, they intensify existing inequalities and restrict access to essential health services, particularly for women and girls in vulnerable communities.The session served as an important space for participants to deepen their understanding of this critical intersection between climate change and SRHR. It was equally enriching for me, as I gained insights into the diverse contexts and experiences of others working on similar issues worldwide.One of the most powerful lessons came from hearing other participants’ stories. For example, someone shared that in Uganda, women are sometimes forced to exchange sex for access to water which is something not addressed in Yemen due to cultural sensitivities. This was eye-opening and highlighted the importance of addressing such dimensions in future work, where context allows.This session directly supported the advocacy I am advancing through the WOSSO Fellowship. One of the key goals of my fellowship plan is to raise awareness on how the climate crisis is undermining SRHR in Yemen and to push for gender-responsive climate policies. Presenting the Yemen case to such a diverse and engaged audience expanded my reach and reinforced the urgency of this intersectional agenda.The event also sharpened my skills as an advocate not just in public speaking and messaging, but in responding to challenging questions with confidence. The discussion enriched the content of my ongoing policy paper and will inform future advocacy tools, including a video I’m producing as part of the fellowship.(Written by Muna Alhammadi, WOSSO Fellow)