Location

Room 108

Start Date

2-7-2012 11:20 AM

End Date

2-7-2012 12:40 PM

Description

Desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change pose unrivalled global problems affecting everyone on the planet. However, the impacts thereof are not gender-neutral. Different needs and concerns of men and women and existing gender inequalities mean that women are more likely to lose out than men in the face of these global problems. Over the last two decades, this gender dimension has steadily been recognized in several international legal and policy documents (E.g. Agenda 21, Rio declaration, Beijing Platform for Action). The need to address gender issues with regard to desertification and biodiversity loss has been recognized since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. In the climate change discourse however, gender has only recently gained ground. But despite numerous legal references and even though political will has risen, the words still have to be translated into action.

During this presentation, we will take a closer look at the integration of gender issues within the three Rio Conventions as they are the main international treaties dealing with the above mentioned global problems. We will explore (1) to what extent gender dimensions are included within the framework of the treaties and (2) whether there has been a notable evolution over the years.

Special attention will be paid to the Harmonization Roadmap to Mainstream Gender in the Three Rio Conventions, the Gender Plans of Action and recent COP decisions and to how these developments could contribute to a less bumpy road for gender mainstreaming in the Rio Conventions.

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Jul 2nd, 11:20 AM Jul 2nd, 12:40 PM

Gender and the Rio Conventions: Is the Road Getting Less Bumpy?

Room 108

Desertification, biodiversity loss and climate change pose unrivalled global problems affecting everyone on the planet. However, the impacts thereof are not gender-neutral. Different needs and concerns of men and women and existing gender inequalities mean that women are more likely to lose out than men in the face of these global problems. Over the last two decades, this gender dimension has steadily been recognized in several international legal and policy documents (E.g. Agenda 21, Rio declaration, Beijing Platform for Action). The need to address gender issues with regard to desertification and biodiversity loss has been recognized since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. In the climate change discourse however, gender has only recently gained ground. But despite numerous legal references and even though political will has risen, the words still have to be translated into action.

During this presentation, we will take a closer look at the integration of gender issues within the three Rio Conventions as they are the main international treaties dealing with the above mentioned global problems. We will explore (1) to what extent gender dimensions are included within the framework of the treaties and (2) whether there has been a notable evolution over the years.

Special attention will be paid to the Harmonization Roadmap to Mainstream Gender in the Three Rio Conventions, the Gender Plans of Action and recent COP decisions and to how these developments could contribute to a less bumpy road for gender mainstreaming in the Rio Conventions.