Women4Biodiversity
Where to find us and our partners
19–30 October 2026
Yerevan, Armenia
Our events begin on 18 October.
Overview · Our priorities · Events · Resources · Photos
Championing the rights of women and girls in biodiversity policy
The seventeenth UN biodiversity conference (COP17) will take place in Yerevan, Armenia. It comes at a critical time for biodiversity conservation, as a recent global stocktake by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) secretariat shows that the world is far from meeting the 23 targets outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Additional and accelerated action will be required to meet the targets by 2030, and it is vital that this is implemented with due consideration for gender equality and human rights.
The Women4Biodiversity team have been highly engaged in the negotiations building up to COP17, and we will be on the ground in Yerevan for the duration of the conference to champion the environmental rights of women and girls at the highest platform for biodiversity policy. Our engagement across agenda items will focus on four main areas.
01 · Gender-biodiversity data
The production and use of gender disaggregated biodiversity data must be strengthened in order to fully reflect the impact of biodiversity loss on women and girls. This includes incorporating gender-responsive indicators into monitoring frameworks.
02 · Resource mobilisation
Unequal access to biodiversity finance and resources must be addressed. This means creating inclusive and gender-responsive funding modalities that reduce barriers to direct funding for indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth.
03 · Traditional knowledge integration
Biodiversity policy must recognise and incorporate diverse knowledge systems. Traditional ecological knowledge, including women’s knowledge, should be fully integrated into policy with the free, prior, and informed consent of the knowledge holders.
04 · Inclusive conservation
Conservation policies and initiatives should be designed and implemented using human rights-based and whole-of-society approaches, with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth.
Where to find us
18 OCT
AHEAD OF COP17 · CONFERENCE
2nd Gender and Environment Data Conference: Bridging the Gender-Biodiversity Data Gap for Global Targets
Sunday, 18 October · 8am–6pm
Conference Room 4 (Parz room), 1st Floor, Blue Zone
Following the success of the first Gender and Environment Data Conference in 2024, this one-day conference preceding COP17 will bring together practitioners from governments, NGOs, indigenous peoples and local communities, academia, and more to strengthen the production and use of gender-biodiversity data.
The conference aims to bolster gender-responsive biodiversity and environment data systems by showcasing national and regional good practices, refining a policy brief on data for gender-responsive biodiversity action, and preparing an input package for COP17 negotiators.
19 OCT
WEEK 1 · SIDE EVENT #7451 · BLUE ZONE
Building Gender-Responsive Biodiversity Data Systems: Addressing the Gender Data Gap and Women’s Participation for Effective Implementation and Monitoring of the KMGBF
Monday, 19 October · 1:15pm–2:45pm
Lastiver room, Blue Zone
This side event will showcase solutions and best practices to bolster gender-biodiversity data, including community-based and women-led practices.
Speakers will present a new Handbook on Gender and Biodiversity Data, and showcase practical tools and approaches that can support governments, women’s organisations and other groups in strengthening gender-responsive biodiversity data systems by showcasing and reflecting on the outcomes of the 2nd Gender and Environment Data Conference.
25 OCT
WEEK 1 · PUBLIC EVENT · GREEN ZONE
Gender and Biodiversity Data: Sharing the Conference Outcomes
Sunday, 25 October · 11am–1:30pm
Main Stage, Green Zone
This event will summarise and present the outcomes of the 2nd Gender and Environment Data Conference to the general public, raising awareness of the importance of gender-biodiversity data and the steps that are being taken to strengthen its production and use.
Speakers will share key messages from the conference, and the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their own insights.
28 OCT
WEEK 2 · SIDE EVENT #7488 · BLUE ZONE
Strengthening Cooperation through Target 7 for Nature and Health: Women’s Roles in Addressing Mercury Pollution, Biodiversity and Well-being
Wednesday, 28 October · 11:30am–1pm
Spitak room, Blue Zone
This side event will focus on facilitating cross-convention coordination between the CBD and the Minamata Convention on Mercury regarding the regulation of pollution and toxic substances.
Speakers will present practical experiences on mercury reduction, biodiversity conservation and health monitoring, and identify concrete pathways for incorporating gender-responsive, human rights-based and One Health approaches into national implementation and reporting.
The event will also showcase the methodology for a new composite indicator on the mainstreaming of biodiversity and health interlinkages, which is currently under development.
Resources and recommendations
CBD COP17 Recommendations
Document to be added
CBD COP16 Gender Decisions
Document to be added
Moments from COP17
Coming Soon! Photos from our events and activities will be shared here.
Follow our journey at COP17
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