Women Fisher Folks, SRHR and Climate Change Protecting Human Rights, Health and Gender Equality from Climate Change Women Fisher Folks, SRHR and Climate Change Dr. Joan Castro Philippines

Republic of the Philippines 7,100 islands 100 M people (2014) 70% live in coastal areas High poverty incidence among fishers - 41.4% vs. 26.5% (2009) Fishing-dependent 1 of 17 mega diverse countries Highly prone to natural disasters (tropical cyclones, flooding, storm surges, erosion)

Scoping Study Rationale Determine the awareness on Climate change; inter-linkages of sexual and reproductive health rights, population, health, environment and climate change; benefits of integration particularly among vulnerable groups in the coastal ecosystem; and critical factors and actions for climate change resiliency.

Specific Objectives What the various perspectives on climate change? How are SRHR, PHE and climate change linked and why they should be integrated? What are the actions and policies needed to enable women and fishers to become resilient to climate change?

Key Findings Women and fishers households are experiencing and concerned about the effects of climate change Most affected will be the next generation; families with many children ; large families and low and no stable income; women & children Population, SRHR, health, environment are and climate change are interrelated and interdependent issues We catch lesser and lesser fish. The fish must be going somewhere else, maybe because the ocean is getting warmer, the waves are stronger and bigger and its direction changing.” (Fisher FGD 2014)

The Story of Jovita Ramo Jovita rocks crying Jonel on her 7-month pregnant belly. She’s 37 years old and mother to 8 children. She never had prenatal checkups. Tried pills, but stopped.   She married Nelson at 17. He fishes and does odd jobs when fishing was impossible with unpredictable weather. While doing carpentry, he was electrocuted and fell. He was bedridden, they had to move in with Nelson's mother. Every meal was a struggle. The community shared what they can. The eldest now works as a housemaid. With no savings and impending delivery, for now Jovita worries most how she would deliver her 9th baby.

Advocacy Outcomes that have been Achieved Reached national and local policy makers, stakeholder and networks from various sectors, civil society representatives through various activities such as National Advocacy Dialogues National PHE Summit 6th PHE Conference Nov 2016 Research Forum International Women Deliver Conference Community activities Films

Challenges faced in doing advocacy Timing of the National Elections New Leaders Advocacy activities are both strategic and opportunistic.. Implementing the planned activities and at the same time leveraging existing activities, partnership and collaboration are essential in advocacy.

Implications for Policy and Practice Institute comprehensive measures that provide multisectoral services as part of equity-focused programs and to build climate change resiliency Mainstream integrated SRHR, health, and biodiversity conservation into policies, programs including SGD agenda and discourse to address poverty, food security, gender equality, good health and well-being and climate action

Design programs and plans and create policies that considers the women and the future generations. www.pfpi.org