Gender and Environment

 

Since 1984 throughout various decision-making bodies (Members Assemblies and World Conservation Congresses) the incorporation of women and gender considerations have been given high priority.

 

In 1998 IUCN approved a Gender Policy in which one of the elements was the creation of a Global Senior Gender Adviser Office. IUCN also defined that gender considerations should be an integral part of IUCN programme of work. A network of regional Gender Focal Points are intensively ensuring that IUCN Gender Equality and Equity Policy is taken into account in the initiatives at the regional and national work.

 

The Office of the Global Senior Gender Adviser IUCN enjoys worldwide recognition for the extensive work it has carried out over the past twelve years addressing gender equality issues within the environmental sector. This includes the development of sector-specific gender tools, gender-mainstreaming efforts with a variety of global forums including the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), CSD (United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development), CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) and World Water Forum, along with the establishment of gender entities in environmental ministries throughout Central America. IUCN has provided support to UNEP and the CBD to develop gender action plans.

 

In the past five years, the IUCN Global Senior Gender Adviser has been conducting a series of efforts to ensure that gender considerations are fully integrated in climate change and biodiversity policies. Part of her work has been the creation and consolidation of the GGCA (Global Gender and Climate Alliance), training to delegates from all around the world to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), building capacity at the governmental and nongovernmental institutions together with the development of various manuals as well as articles dealing with the topic

 

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