WUNRN
RIO + 20 - WOMEN'S PRIORITIES FOR A
SUSTAINABLE & EQUITABLE WORLD!
Rio+20!
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 12-22 June 2012
Soon world leaders will gather together for the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- to make commitments for
securing a sustainable future.
Referred to as Rio+20, the conference comes 20 years after the historic Earth
Summit of 1992, which set the framework for sustainable development; with its 3
dimensions: environmental, social and economic and with a strong role for women
as confirmed in Rio Principle 20!
What is Rio+20?
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development is taking place in Rio
from the 20-22 of June 2012, preceded by a preparatory meeting from the 13-15
June. Rio+20 marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), which was also held in Rio in 1992 (as
well as the 40 years anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm Summit and the 10th
anniversary of the 2002 Johannesburg Summit).
The Conference will host high level political and civil society representatives
and is aimed at renewing commitments made at the past summits on sustainable
development, and will have its focus on two main issues: A green economy in the
context of poverty eradication and an institutional framework for sustainable
development.
For more information on the Conference, please visit the UNCSD Website:
www.uncsd2012.org
Rio+20 is an opportunity for women around the world to let our political
leaders know what our priorities are.
Why is Rio+20 important for Women?
In the Rio Declaration (1992) it is recognized that "Women have a vital
role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is
therefore essential to achieve sustainable development."
Although women throughout the world are key actors in maintaining the
sustaining livelihoods and welfare of their families and communities, and in
making a transition to a more equitable and sustainable world, twenty years
after the first Rio conference, great social and economic inequities still
remain. These inequities especially affect women and children, who make up the
majority of those living in poverty.
Rio+20 is a major chance to ensure that our demands are recognized by
governments and policymakers and that remaining gaps in the implementation of
the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development can be assessed
and acted upon.
What Can You Do?
The Women's Major Group, is preparing for Rio+20 and advocating for ambitious
outcomes which represents the diversity of women's priorities and which demands
from political leaders to achieve gender equality and social and environmental
justice to secure a sustainable future for all.
1. Answer the Global Women Rio+20 Survey
There are crucial questions we need your input on! For example:
- Have you seen progress in your country/area over the past 20 years (since the
1992 Earth Summit)?
- Do you think women's groups in your country are engaged by policymakers on
sustainable development?
- What are your priorities for Rio+20?
Ensure your perspectives help shape advocacy in Rio! Answer the survey, share
it with your colleagues & peers
Click to Take Survey...
2. Sign the Global Women Rio+20 Policy Paper
In order to show your commitment and support for a successful outcome of
Rio+20, you are welcome to sign the Women's Position Statement for Rio+20,
which was officially submitted to the United Nations, no matter if you are a
member of an (international) organization or an individual person.
http://www.womenrio20.org
3. Take part in Women's Major Group Activities and Preparation for Rio+20
Join our Policy advocacy Women Rio+20 Steering Committee, send a request to wecf@wecf.eu
Also, you could: Organize your own Women Rio+20 event in your country; Take
part in our events at the Rio+20 - testimonies, presentations of good practices
etc. Contact the 'Organizing Partners' of the Women's Major group today to
start a dialogue!
_____________________________________________________________________
The
Women’s Rio 2012 steering committee is the coordination and decision making
body of the women’s major group for Rio 2012. The steering committee
includes international women’s networks working on sustainable development
issues;
- ENERGIA International Network on Gender on Sustainable
Energy
- IUCN Gender Department
- GFC Global Forest Coalition
- VAM Voices of African Mothers
- WEDO Women Environment Development Organisation
- WECF Women in Europe for a Common Future
- WOCAN Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and
NRM
- Earth Day Networks, Earth Care Africa, Eco-Forum
Kazakhstan, UNISON Kyrgyzstan, Commonweal, Black Sea Women Club, as well
as many other regional and national women and sustainable development
organisations.
Agenda
21: Chapter 24
GLOBAL ACTION FOR WOMEN TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
24.1.
The
international community has endorsed several plans of action and conventions
for the full, equal and beneficial integration of women in all development
activities, in particular the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women, 1/ which emphasize women's participation in national and
international ecosystem management and control of environment degradation.
Several conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women (General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex) and
conventions of ILO and UNESCO have also been adopted to end gender-based
discrimination and ensure women access to land and other resources, education
and safe and equal employment. Also relevant are the 1990 World Declaration on
the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for
implementing the Declaration (A/45/625, annex). Effective implementation of
these programmes will depend on the active involvement of women in economic and
political decision-making and will be critical to the successful implementation
of Agenda 21.
For
general information, please contact: rio20steeringcommittee@googlegroups.com
Ms. Sascha Gabizon
Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF
St.-Jakobs-Platz 10, D - 80331 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89 23239380 / Fax: +49 89 232393811
Biltstraat 445, NL - 3572 AW Utrecht, Netherlands
Tel: +31 30 2310300 / Fax: +31 30 2340878
E-mail: sascha.gabizon@wecf.eu
Ms. Sabina Anokye-Mensah
Voices of African Mothers
P.O. Box AN12982, Accra North, Ghana, West Africa
E-mail: sabinamensah@hotmail.com
Tel: +233 244 379 974
Ms. Nana-Fosu Randall
Voices of African Mothers
E-mail: nanamo2000@hotmail.com
Tel: +233 277 725 378