Environmental Issues and Themes: Deforestation and Degradation

Worthy of dignity and safety

In the first-ever IUCN World Conservation Congress thematic session focused on understanding and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in relation to environmental issues and threats such as climate change, member organizations discussed the steps they are taking to safeguard staff, partners and beneficiaries; tackle discriminatory norms that allow for or employ violence; and cooperate across sectors to better advance rights-based gender-responsive programming and results.

Event

Gender-based Violence and Environment Linkages: Summary for Policymakers

Published in this critical post-2020 period of environmental decision-making, and with less than a decade to meet targets of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this summary is designed to support policymakers and implementers to address and respond to GBV and environment links.

Policy

Protecting people and biodiversity: Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and conservation links

In Kenya and Peru, IUCN Members are working with local partners through the USAID Resilient, Inclusive & Sustainable Environments (RISE) Challenge to address GBV in environment-related programming. See a short story on how Conservation International, PROMSEX, Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, Fauna & Flora International, and others are taking action to protect people and biodiversity.

Blog

Profiles for change: Amelia Arreguín, Women’s Caucus of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

See this profile on Amelia Arreguín, an activist from Mexico working in various advocacy spheres on women’s and girl’s human rights across the environment sector, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Women’s Caucus.

Web Story

Gender Assessment and Action Plan – Uganda: Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments

Building climate resilience through attention to GBV by identifying linkages and informing action through a gender analysis.

Report

Gender-based Violence and Biodiversity: A briefing note on linkages to inform the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework process

This Briefing Note reviews key evidence on GBV and biodiversity linkages and suggests priority recommendations that decision-makers at all levels can consider for realising robust gender-responsive action in biodiversity policies and action.

Policy

How climate change and gender-based violence are connected

As donors begin to explore the links between environmental issues and GBV, “we can’t close our eyes” to the issue anymore. Experts say it’s time to tackle this endemic problem. See this Devex article on the GBV-ENV Center and RISE, including a deeper look at RISE grantee Conservation International and Promsex’s work in Peru.

News Article

Plans to Prevent Future Pandemics Must Consider Gender Issues, too

Article on the need for gender-responsive environmental programming post-pandemic based on findings from IUCN publication on GBV and environment linkages. The author highlights the role of women in conservation, particularly in the Global South, and calls for the need to address GBV in the conservation field.

News Article

AGENT Webinar: Gender-Based Violence and Environment Linkages – Stories and strategies for change, a spotlight conversation with the Hariyo Ban Program

In Nepal many rural women are very dependent on natural resources such as firewood, fodder, water and traditional medicines, but they are often excluded from decision-making about their forests, and sometimes have difficulty accessing the resources they need. As part of its GESI work the Hariyo Ban Program realized it needed to tackle gender-based violence in order for women to participate more fully and safely in community forest management and sharing of forest benefits.

Webinar

Genre et gouvernance des ressources naturelles : Lutter contre les inégalités et autonomiser les femmes pour une gestion durable des écosystèmes

Dans le monde entier, les femmes et les hommes ont des rôles et des responsabilités, des connaissances et des expériences, des droits et des pouvoirs différents lorsqu’il s’agit de gérer les ressources naturelles. Ce dossier de la SRJS examine pourquoi l’égalité des sexes et l’équité sociale sont importantes pour la gouvernance des ressources naturelles : améliorer les résultats environnementaux et sociaux.

Brief