БАЙГАЛИЙН ГАМШИГТ ҮЗЭГДЛИЙН ҮЕИЙН ЖЕНДЭРТ СУУРИЛСАН ХҮЧИРХИЙЛЛИЙН НӨХЦӨЛ БАЙДАЛ (ЗУДЫН ҮЕИЙН ЖИШЭЭН ДЭЭР)

Abstract

Mongolia is an extremely susceptible country to climatic change due to its isolated geographical location, vulnerable ecosystem, and economic system dependent on nature and climate. Within the period of the last 40 years, the ecosystem of Mongolia has undergone a significant change due to global climatic change and human activities, and thus is being threatened by desertification, an increase of repeated drought and dzud, water resource issues, and scarcity of diverse biological species. As members of socially vulnerable groups are susceptible to violence during catastrophes, the issue of protecting them is emphasized globally. This study aimed to identify herders' perceptions and attitudes towards gender-based violence, and the types of gender-based violence that herders are exposed to during the dzud. Within the scope of the same objectives, researcher performed the data collection of the assessment from within 14 soums of seven aimags (Bayan-Ulgii, Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Uvs, Zavkhan, Khentii, and Khuvsgul). When dzud-affected herders were asked about their understanding of GBV, the majority (79.8%) had never heard of the term “GBV” before or only heard it but with no understanding of the term GBV. Some negative impacts arose in the demand for mental, physical, financial, and other fundamental necessities during dzud. In the mental state of herders during dzud, 13.6% were anxious and fearful. A total of 61 herders (15.9% of all herders) were exposed to some type of violence during dzud.