RAWALPINDI: Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), in collaboration with the Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI), organised a “Her Climate Dialogue” to examine the links between climate change, gender inequality and the rising risk of child marriage among vulnerable communities.
The dialogue highlighted how climate-related disasters, displacement and economic hardship can increase pressure on families to marry off girls at an early age. Speakers discussed the issue of “monsoon brides”, a term used to describe girls whose marriages may be influenced by climate-related crises and the vulnerabilities they create.
The session was attended by FJWU Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Azra Yasmin, FDI Executive Director Uzma Yaqoob and Dr. Saima Ashraf Kayani, Head of FJWU’s Department of International Relations.
Moderated by rights activist Maya Zaman, the panel brought together experts from child protection, humanitarian assistance, climate finance, academia and gender advocacy.
The speakers included Child Protection Expert Arshad Mahmood; Dr. Rasheed Ahmed, Humanitarian Programme Analyst at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Anbreen Ajaib, Executive Director of Bedari; and Anam Rathore, Climate Finance Expert at the CVF V20 Secretariat.
Other panellists were Dr. Samrana Afzal, Assistant Professor at FJWU’s Department of International Relations; Dr. Surriyya Choudhary, Chairperson of the Department of Fine Arts; and Dr. Zainab Amanullah, gender and climate activist and Founder of Saheli Forum.
Art and Performance Highlight Women’s Climate Vulnerabilities
Alongside the policy discussions, FJWU’s Department of Fine Arts and FDI jointly organised an art exhibition and a narrative dance performance featuring students’ work.
The creative presentations explored the experiences of women and girls affected by climate change, highlighting their vulnerabilities and the social consequences of climate-related disasters.
Held under the leadership of FJWU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza, the initiative reflected the university’s commitment to rights-based climate policies, gender-responsive disaster governance and youth-led advocacy.
The dialogue emphasised the need to incorporate gender equality and child protection into climate policies and disaster response strategies. Participants stressed that women and girls must receive greater protection during climate emergencies, when displacement, financial insecurity and social pressures can expose them to increased risks.
