Date: 20 September 2022
This webinar was co-organised with the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net). This event aimed to raise awareness of the critical importance of applying a gender lens in biodiversity conservation, with particular emphasis on women’s critical role in the co-production of biodiversity-related knowledge.
Highlights from this webinar include:
- Introduction to the BES-Net Gender Strategy and the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy.
- Gender mainstreaming in the Post-2020 global biodiversity framework: reflections from Women4Biodiversity.
- Stories of gender mainstreaming from the field (UNDP Kazakhstan with gender analysis for pollinator value chain crops and Colombia regarding the application of women’s bio-cultural knowledge for bridging the gap between science and policy).
- Indigenous women’s contributions to the co-production of knowledge for achieving global targets: Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network.
Speakers:
- Yuko Kurauchi, Policy Specialist, BES-Net Coordinator (BES-Net/UNDP)
- Aroa Santiago, Gender Specialist-Inclusive Economies (UNDP)
- Ciara Daniels, Policy Specialist, Gender and Environment (UNDP)
- Mrinalini (Tina) Rai, Director (Women4Biodiverity)
- Gaukhar Nursha, Gender Specialist (UNDP Kazakhstan)
- Aizhan Baimukanova, Project Officer (UNDP Kazakhstan)
- Carolina Sofrony Esmeral, BES Analyst (UNDP Colombia)
- Ana Maria Mahecha, Advisor on Biodiversity and Water Resources for the Development Area (UNDP Colombia)
- Edith Bastidas, Biocultural Diversity Chapter Author (NEA Colombia)
- Fany Kuiru Castro, Coordinator of Women, Children, and Family (National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon – OPIAC)
- Maria Eugenia Choque Quispe, Aymara People of Bolivia, Member of the Network (La Red de Mujeres Indígenas sobre Biodiversidad de América Latina y el Caribe (RMIB-LAC))
Question & answer
What is the Colombian experience in trying to balance the participation of Indigenous women and men in decision-making?
In Colombia, some progress has been made in the participation of indigenous women but there is still a wide gap in the relationship between indigenous men and non-indigenous women situation. There are facts that show greater empowerment and participation of indigenous women, such as:
- The creation of the national commission of indigenous women within the framework of the Permanent Roundtable of Concertation between indigenous peoples and the government
- The strengthening of indigenous women’s organizations
- The financing of projects led by or whose beneficiaries are directly indigenous women.
- The election of indigenous governors and other authority figures headed by women
- Leadership of indigenous organizations
- The leadership of indigenous political parties
- The election of indigenous women congresswomen, deputies, and councilwomen.
However, it is necessary to continue working on the elimination of different forms of violence and discrimination, as well as on economic empowerment and capacity building for participation and decision-making.