The Gender Plan of Action Under the Convention on Biological Diversity
Note by the Executive Secretary
1. The Executive Secretary is attaching herewith, for the information of participants in the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the Gender Action Plan under the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated at a workshop organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Senior Gender Advisor of IUCN from 16 to 18 January 2008 in Geneva, with funding support from HIVOS (Dutch Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries). Participants included staff from: the Convention Secretariat, IUCN, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), and indigenous and local community representatives.
2. The plan defines the role that the Convention Secretariat will play in stimulating and facilitating efforts, both in house and with partners at the national, regional and global levels, to overcome constraints and take advantage of opportunities to promote gender equality. It is also a reflection of the increasing awareness that gender equality and women’s empowerment are important prerequisites for environmental conservation and sustainable development.
