Ecological Violence against Women: A Legal Reflection on the Effect of the Environmental Degradation on the Increase of Violence against Women

One of the hidden types of violence against women (VAW) that is linked to the degradation of the environment is ecological violence. Ecological violence refers to a type of violence which is formed as a result of environmental crisis in communities. In this descriptive-analytic article, an attempt has been made to examine the effects of environmental degradation on the increase of VAW from a legal perspective and also with referring to the role of women in preserving the environment. As the environmental degradation may cause to the VAW, the ecological VAW can lead to more serious destruction of environment by eliminating the women as the protectors of the environment and natural resources. Despite the prevalence of this type of VAW, it has not gained appropriate attention in the documents and mechanisms related to the environment and women. It seems that UN formal organizations and states must establish and develop the legal rules as well as provide the serious and effective monitoring mechanisms until to create the way for turning the eye of international actors to visible and hidden aspects of this phenomenon. Also the combating gender inequality and reducing it as the base for environmental injustice which is the main causes of ecological VAW, is a necessary. Furthermore, NGOs related to women rights on one side and those related to the environmental protection on the other side can play a significant role in this regard.