A Comparative Study on the Role of International Treaties in Protecting Women During the Floods in Southern Punjab in 2010 & 2022.

Abstract

Climate change is a global phenomenon that profoundly impacts both ecological and social systems. In regions such as Pakistan, where socioeconomic disparities are significant, the impacts of climate change are more severe. The 2010 & 2022 flood in South Punjab, Pakistan, exposed the intrinsic deficiencies in underprivileged regions concerning women's fundamental rights, discrimination, healthcare, and essential infrastructure. The frequency and intensity of floods are escalating, resulting in fatalities, relocation, food scarcity, and economic challenges. At-risk populations, including children, the elderly, and particularly women, encounter these issues more severely owing to restricted access to resources, inadequate infrastructure, prevailing socioeconomic inequalities, deficiencies in flood disasters, and gender-responsive policies. Comprehending the intricate relationships between climate change and vulnerability is crucial for formulating effective adaptation and mitigation measures to safeguard vulnerable populations and enhance resilience amidst a changing environment.1 This study initially examines two fundamental frameworks, international treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030). The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women serves as both a worldwide bill of rights for women and a framework for action by nations to ensure the realization of those rights. In South Punjab, CEDAW's effectiveness is constrained by inadequate gender-sensitive disaster response tactics, and qualitative research indicates that women are particularly affected by relief preparations. The assessment necessitates quantifying international accords to design gender-sensitive catastrophe response plans. Through the lens of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the primary factors include comprehending disaster risk, fortifying disaster risk governance, investing in disaster reduction for resilience, enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and promoting "Build Back Better" principles in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.2