Women have made milestones in various sectors,
such as business, health, education, media, and peace and security. Through the years, women achieved so much in their fight for gender equality, but still many serious gaps remain.
To uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality, the International Women’s Day is celebrated every March 8. Started in 1975, the United Nations designated the special day to rally support for women’s rights and greater participation in the political, economic and social arenas.
For 2015, the theme of the celebration is “Empowering Woman, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!”
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a road map that sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights. The blueprint, signed by 189 governments, focuses on 12 critical areas of concerns and envisions gender equality in all dimensions of life.
Women and the environment
The worsening environmental conditions, such as pollution, climate change, resources depletion, biodiversity loss and natural systems degradation, greatly affect the vulnerable sectors of society, most especially women.
One of the 12 critical areas of concerns stated in the Beijing Declaration is the role of women in environmental conservation. The declaration stated that “women have an essential role to play in the development of sustainable and ecologically sound consumption and production patterns and approaches to natural resource management.”
The Beijing Declaration pushes for governments to follow development paradigms that integrate environmental sustainability and gender equality.
Women, considered as educators and caretakers of families, play an important role in promoting sustainable development through “their concern for the quality and sustainability of life for present and future generations.” Women’s participation and leadership are essential for sound environmental management. The declaration rallies for women to be actively part of policy formulation and decision-making in natural resources management and environmental conservation.
Women as champions
of biodiversity
“As we celebrate the International Day of Women, we should recognize the achievements of women in different areas, including the environment and biodiversity,” lawyer Roberto V. Oliva, executive director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), said. In ACB’s 2014 Search for the Asean Champions of Biodiversity, three young women emerged as winners. Indonesia’s Adeline Suwana of the Sahabat Alam youth organization; and twins Giovanna and Gabriella Thohir of The Bekantan Twins Project won in the Youth Category.
Adeline founded Sahabat Alam, an internationally known youth environmental organization that promotes biodiversity conservation through school seminars, events, talk shows, films and various activities to encourage young people to do something for the environment. Twin sisters Gabriella and Giovanna and The Bekantan Twins Project are championing biodiversity by inspiring fellow youth and the public in Indonesia to conserve the endangered bekantans (proboscis monkeys).
“These young women are modern-day heroes who bring biodiversity closer to everyone, and inspire people to take action and conserve biodiversity. They are exemplary women who have led groundbreaking environmental movements,” according to Oliva.
“However, there should be a move to mainstream women’s voices into the overall decision-making process in issues concerning the environment,” he added. For centuries, women have been recognized as primary custodians of traditional knowledge of biodiversity.
The Beijing Declaration stated that women, especially indigenous women, have particular knowledge of ecological linkages and fragile ecosystem management.
“Because of this knowledge, which is fundamental to food security and conservation, women should also be involved in the decision-making process in the use of biodiversity resources,” Oliva said.
“While various international conventions on gender and the environment continue to encourage the inclusion of women in all aspects of the management of biodiversity, governments should incorporate gender concerns into their national biodiversity strategies and action plans,” he added.
Eisen Bernard V. Bernardo | Special to the BusinessMirror