Women and Biodiversity at COP15 and Beyond: EU-China Side Event at the Commission on the Status of Women
Programme
Introductions
H.E. Mr Olof Skoog, Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN
H.E. Mr Zhang Jun, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of China to the UN
Keynote speech by H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Panel Discussion on best practices and lessons learnt moderated by Mrinalini Rai, Director of Women4Biodiversity, followed by interactive discussions with Permanent Representatives
Background
The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises the vital role that women play in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.[1] Guided by this understanding, State Parties have since then committed to integrating gender into the work under the Convention and in 2015 adopted a Gender Plan of Action. The Commission on the Status of Women has similarly recognised the need to integrate a gender perspective into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of response and recovery plans on biodiversity loss. At the second part of 15th Conference of Parties to the CBD in Kunming, China, Parties will adopt a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and a new gender plan of action.
The Kunming Declaration “Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth” has recognized the important role played by women, girls and youth.[2] The review of the implementation of the 2015-2020 gender plan of action published by the CBD Secretariat, concluded that stakeholders found the plan useful and that it had helped them mainstream gender equality into their work.[3] It further identified gaps, best practices and lessons learned. It found that particular attention was needed to translate future plans into action at the national level, and to strengthen capacity development, reporting and coordination with Parties and partners to increase gender-responsive implementation and impact of activities.
The side event, co-hosted by China and the European Union, will assess progress and challenges related to women’s role in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including a gender-responsive implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity. The discussion will draw on lessons learnt from experiences and best practices and will identify areas of further work to prepare and implement the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and to achieve sustainable development.
Guiding questions
How can biodiversity action contribute to gender equality, the enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls, and their empowerment, including improving women’s livelihood and well-being?
What are the best practices and examples of women’s participation and leadership in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity?
How do policies and programmes that promote and protect women and girls’ rights improve biodiversity conservation efforts?
What are the best practices and results of efforts to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls in environmental decision-making?
What are the main challenges and obstacles to the implementation of Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in a gender-responsive way?
[1] https://www.cbd.int/convention/
[2] https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/c2db/972a/fb32e0a277bf1ccfff742be5/cop-15-05-add1-en.pdf
[3] https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/2a29/307a/3235fdabd9edd01b9576e42b/sbi-03-02-add3-en.pdf