UN CBD Women Caucus Closing Statement
29 March 2022
WG20202 -Closing Statement
UN CBD Women Caucus Closing Statement
Thank you Chair,
Women and girls in the field, as defenders, keepers and users of biodiversity, are waiting for us to make transformative decisions and act in a bold manner. Their contributions, knowledge, practices and aspirations for biodiversity need to be recognised and their rights guaranteed.
The Women’s Caucus thanks all actors involved for their hard work and constructive dialogue to develop the Gender Plan of Action. This instrument needs to be applied in a collaborative manner, at all levels of Government, hand in hand with women and girls, in all their diversities, in their territories. We look forward to its adoption at COP 15.
Gender-based violence related to the environment must be stopped and eradicated, access to justice and information should be secured, and the safety of environmental human rights defenders - many of whom are women - must be ensured.
No element in the GBF, nor in any biodiversity-related policy, planning and implementation, can lead to violence or conflict. This means that all targets need to fully respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and women, including their rights to Free Prior and Informed Consent, and to govern their traditional territories.
We commend Parties for recommending the integration of gender considerations in a few targets, but we deplore that too many targets and the proposed indicators are still genderblind. This has to be improved if the GBF is to be compatible with the Gender Plan of Action. Women's rights are human rights and this needs to be effectively and duly translated into the goals, targets and indicators, strategic approaches, and the monitoring and implementation framework of the Post-2020 GBF.
The Women’s Caucus strongly supports a stand-alone target on gender equality for a comprehensive approach and accountable implementation of the GBF. This target is now being supported by many Parties and observers.
A stand-alone target on gender equality would send a clear signal that women and girls' rights are a fundamental prerequisite and part of effective biodiversity action. It would drive action towards gender priorities, ensure that Parties consider this target in their planning processes (e.g., NBSAPs), and that they monitor and report on progress.
The women and girls of the world expect much from all of you, all of us.
Can we count on you to be the next Gender Champion to ensure that the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will be truly transformative?
Thank you, Chair.