Round Table discussions on UNFCCC decision on gender balance

1. Round Table discussions on UNFCCC decision on gender balance Presented by Annabell Waititu Institute of Environment and Water Panafric Hotel 25th July 2013

2. Background: why? • Climate change affects women & men in all settings • Those (women &men) in rural areas are more vulnerable because of their high dependency on local natural resources for their livelihood. • The most vulnerable are women because of their roles and responsibilities; and their lack of access to resources to help them cope with climate impacts (decision-making, credit, training/skills,..) • Women also constitute the majority of the world’s poorest • Cultural factors also make women more vulnerable – the norms and practices

3. Background: legal instruments • there exists numerous international instruments generated to ensure gender equality; and to end discrimination against women (these include declarations, conventions, platforms, plans of action, resolutions and agreements)

4. Background: legal instruments • United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - explicit recognition of equality of rights and fundamental freedoms of W + M, with clear emphasis on protection of the dignity of persons • Convention to Eliminate all Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979, • Agenda 21, NFLS, BPA, • Millennium Declaration 2000 – gender equality & women empowerment • Etc.

5. Gender in the climate change 3 binding agreements from 1992 RIO Summit • CBD is explicit on women’s participation and the need to mainstream gender. It recognizes that biodiversity includes not only plants, animals, micro-organisms and their ecosystems, but also human beings and their needs (e.g., food, clean air, medicines and a clean and healthy environment. • CCD not only recognizes the role women play in rural sustenance, but also promotes equal participation of women and men.

6. Gender in the climate change • UNFCCC does not make mention of gender or of women and men as specific stakeholders; and neither does it provide a mechanism for promoting and including gender equity and equality in climate change • The CC global negotiations are mainly focused on reducing GHGs – it does not provide for a legal framework or a rights-based approach needed to implement responses to climate change. NB. However, UNFCCC is determined by the United Nations framework and therefore all decisions taken by the UN General Assembly and conventions or treaties concerning gender are binding

7. Gender finds its entry into CC – Some History • Since COP-11 (2005), Women started organizing caucuses that vigorously negotiated for inclusion of a gender approach in all areas of the Convention • Gender got a boost in COP 13 (2007) - multiple gender events; submission to the COP on gender by the Network of Women Ministers for Environment. • COP 14 (2008) women’s caucus applied for a women’s NGO constituency under the UNFCCC • Subsequent COPs -an increase in the presence and engagement of women‘s and gender organisations in the UNFCCC process is now a norm.

8. Gender finds its entry into CC – Some History • In November 2009 UNFCCC secretariat made the decision to provisionally recognize women and gender NGOs as official constituency in their own right. • In November 2011, the UNFCCC Secretariat officially recognized the Women and Gender Constituency. • In 2013 Gender Decision 23/CP.18: Promoting gender balance and improving the participation of women in UNFCCC negotiations and in the representation of Parties in bodies established pursuant to the Convention or the Kyoto Protocol

9. Gender Decision 23/CP.18 • Important to note that gender groups were pushing for gender equality and not balance • Gender balance has always served as an important indicator of gender equality, and a truly inclusive and participatory process can serve to advance gender equality • However, gender equality extends well beyond simply bringing women to the table and calls for an understanding of the social, political, legal and institutional disparities which result in gender inequality.

10. Goals of the Gender Decision 23/CP.18 • Improving the participation of women in the bodies of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and Striving for a gender balance in UNFCCC bodies • Striving for gender balance in country delegations and • Conducting a workshop on gender balance and gender-sensitive climate policy and capacity building at the next COP in Warsaw at the end of 2013 • Chairs of such bodies to be guided by the goal of gender balance when setting up informal negotiating groups and consultation mechanisms

11. Key Milestones in the Implementation of Decision 23/CP.18 • September 2, 2013 – Deadline for submissions from Parties and Observers • November 12 or November 13 - COP19 Gender Workshop • November 19 - COP19 Gender Day • 2016 - COP22 – review progress towards goal of gender balance • Yearly – UNFCCC Secretariat will collect data and reports on UNFCCC gender balance

12. Conclusion • for the first time, the decision places the issue of gender and climate change as a standing item on the agenda of COPs • Continued discussions on how to advance gender decision at all levels • Hence the need to identify best practices, gaps, opportunities and challenges in advancing the goal of gender balance and on how to promote gender-sensitive climate policy