Aral Sea crisis in Central Asia is one of the most catastrophic but anthropogenic environmental, economic and human disasters. The crisis developed due to the desiccation of Aral Sea, triggering ecological disaster as the water acquired high level of hazardous chemicals, pesticides and microbial contaminants. The depletion of water and related environmental damage affects the whole region’s sustainable development, human wellbeing, security and survival. This paper argues that the human insecurities have disproportionate impact on women owing to the persistence of patriarchal exploitative social order and structural inequality inherent in the Central Asian societies. The loss of egalitarian approach towards women’s issues in the Soviet era, the revival of traditional gender stereotypes, economic deprivation, limited access to decision-making process and inadequate attention paid to gender issues in the neoliberal development priorities of states in the region make women further vulnerable. Hence, exploring the complexities of environment, human security and gender concerns are relevant.

Aral Sea1 crisis in Central Asia is globally accepted as one of the anthropogenic environmental disasters embedded with far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic consequences, public health crisis and varied human insecurities. The crisis developed to catastrophic levels due to the shrinking and desiccation of Aral Sea endangering the water security as it acquired high level of hazardous chemicals, pesticides and microbial contaminants. The depletion of water and related environmental damage affects the whole region’s sustainable development, human wellbeing, security and survival. Though the human insecurities emerged from the Aral Sea ecological crisis are affecting all men, women and children, this paper argues that these insecurities have disproportionate impact on women owing to the persistence of patriarchal exploitative social order, gender inequality, marginalization and discrimination of women, these being the structural characteristics of Central Asian societies. Moreover lack of the needed gender concern even during the Soviet era, the revival of traditional gender stereotypes, the religious revivalism, restricted economic freedom, limited access to decision-making process and inadequate attention given to gender in the neoliberal development priorities of states in the region make women further vulnerable. Hence, this paper tries to explore the complexities of environment, human security and gender concerns generated by Aral Sea crisis.

International Relations Journal, Aral Sea Crisis, Central Asia, Environment, Human Security, Environmental Security Issues, Human Security Concerns, Gender Concerns.