Gender and Biodiversity

The Pacific Voyage Media Team

20 October Nagoya, Japan - The Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and other members of the Global Gender and Climate Alliance are attending the 10th meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity coordinating a daily caucus for gender mainstreaming advocacy.

WEDO Advocacy Coordinator Rachel Harris says their presence here is to make sure that the perspective of both men and women are being put forward within all new agreements at the COP10.

Gender mainstreaming, she stresses is also important for women to be part of the male-dominated negotiations.   It is the goal of the caucus to implement gender mainstreaming into the CBD.

 “We are inviting everyone to attend the caucus and make comments and share on gender issues at the COP10,” Harris says.

Harris is also inviting participants from the Pacific Island nations to attend the caucus and provide input on the gender and women issues and gender equality which can be raised during the COP meeting.

“We want to form a relationship with small island nations,” Harris says.

Despite formal commitments made by countries to guarantee equality between sexes, and demonstrated benefits of gender equality to societies and economies; more work is needed in this area.

Harris stated that during daily caucus they invite speakers and hopefully more experts will attend the caucus to discuss issues related to gender perspective.  The caucus will also be raising points or bring forth intervention on the different negotiation discussions.

Rachel Harris (left)

“We will look at the strategic areas where we can have influence,” Harris stated.

On Friday October 22, 2010, a side event will be held entitled “Gender Mainstreaming in the three Rio Conventions: Promoting Synergies for Sustainable Development.”

This side event will present gender mainstreaming in the three Rio Conventions, including an analysis of gaps and challenges for better coordination between the three conventions.

Talking the talk:
The three Rio Conventions are;
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The United Nations Framework to the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)