By Women4Biodiversity & FARN, members of Women’s Caucus – UNCBD
Last September, at the 3rd meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) (Part I), Costa Rica proposed a new target (Target 22) for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF). It reads: Ensure women and girls’ equitable access and benefits from conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as their informed and effective participation at all levels of policy and decision making related to biodiversity.
In Geneva, during the resumed session of OEWG-3 last Thursday, Costa Rica re-introduced the proposal.
This has received support so far from 11 other Parties: Guatemala, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Tanzania.
This holistic gender-specific target encompasses:
(i) women’s full and effective participation in decision-making,
(ii) equal rights to and control over land and resources, and
(iii) fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic and biological resources
To realize a gender-transformative Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, we need this gender-specific target to anchor gender equality in all biodiversity-related planning, policies and implementation. It would ensure that the post-2020 Gender Plan of Action is implemented and drive action towards gender priorities, funding for gender-responsive biodiversity action, the inclusion of gender considerations in planning processes (e.g., NBSAPs), and in-progress monitoring and reporting.
This is consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) preamble text recognizing the vital role women play in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and affirms the need for the full participation of women in the implementation of the Convention.
Read more about gender in the context of the post-2020 GBF at bit.ly/advancinggender
Visual outcomes of Targeting Gender: Best Practices and Ways Forward side event 14 March 2022 Geneva (Replay at bit.ly/targetgenderreplay)
