In our words: Voices of Women of African Descent for Reproductive and Climate Justice

Climate, racial and gender justice are interlinked and interdependent. Although climate affects the whole planet, it disproportionately affects those who are socially, economically and politically furthest behind. It exacerbates existing inequalities and exclusions resulting from intersecting histories of racism, oppression and discrimination. The result is a reduced ability to realize health, well-being and rights and to respond to the shocks and impacts of the climate crisis.

This advocacy brief amplifies the voices of Afrodescendent activists, practitioners and advocates in climate and reproductive health, rights and justice. It demonstrates how women of African descent are leading and inspiring action in their communities and spotlights the pervasiveness of discrimination and how it manifests to impact Afrodescendent women and girls.

The brief also examines how society’s poorest and most vulnerable, despite having contributed very little to the global climate crisis, are too often left to deal with its worst effects. Finally it underscores action points brought forward by civil society organizations and practitioners, which recommend recognizing the role of racism, investing in research on how climate change affects Afro-descendant communities and amplifying Afro-descendant voices and expertise along the road to climate justice.