Peer-reviewed article
How do extreme weather events contribute to violence against children?
Simone Datzberger, Lottie Howard‐Merrill, Colin Murray Parkes, Steven Kator Iorfa ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examines how extreme weather events increase children's exposure to violence. The researchers found that the relationship between extreme weather and violence against children is shaped by gender, displacement, child labour, and health factors, and is rooted in existing inequalities. Violence can intensify during extreme weather events in homes and relief shelters, and children may be forced into hazardous labour as families struggle to rebuild. The study concludes that more research is needed to develop context-specific protections for children affected by extreme weather.
Key points
- Violence against children can intensify during extreme weather events, but the nature of this relationship varies by context
- The relationship between extreme weather and violence is linked to gender, climate-induced mobility or immobility, child labour, and health
- Extreme weather increases social, economic and emotional pressures that raise children's risk of violence exposure
- Violence may occur in homes or relief shelters, involving peers or hazardous labour
- The relationship is rooted in historical injustices and global systems, disproportionately affecting those living in poverty
Limitations
This is a scoping review that synthesizes existing literature rather than presenting new empirical data, so it cannot provide evidence of the magnitude of the problem or test specific interventions. The review identifies significant knowledge gaps and highlights that evidence remains limited and under-theorised.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Only recently have research and policy begun to shine a light on the magnifying effects of EWEs (Extreme Weather Events) on children's exposure to violence. However, the links between EWEs and VAC (Violence against Children) remain under-theorised, poorly understood and often unacknowledged in policy and practice. OBJECTIVE: Identify, synthesize and analyse available evidence on the central characteristics and factors influencing the relationship between VAC and EWEs. METHODS: We conducted an extensive scoping review of the literature (academic and grey) to identify existing research and gaps in knowledge. Using flexible and iteratively developed search terms enabled us to identify direct violence - physical, sexual and emotional - and structural violence, rooted in inequitable and unjust systems and institutions. RESULTS: The relationship between VAC and EWEs is linked to gender; climate-induced mobility or immobility; child labour; and health. We found that VAC can intensify during EWEs, but the nature of this relationship is contextually specific. The relationship between VAC and EWEs is rooted in historical injustices, global systems and structures, and therefore disproportionately affects those living in poverty. CONCLUSION: Studies have uncovered how increasing social, economic and emotional pressures following EWEs increase children's violence risk exposure. This may occur in their homes or in relief shelters. The violence may involve peers, or forms of hazardous labour that young people are compelled into because of the sudden need for families to rebuild or help make ends meet. More knowledge is needed to inform integrated, context-specific and culturally sensitive plans to better protect children from the consequences of EWEs.