Nagoya, Japan- Today, Rachel Harris of WEDO gave an intervention at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)  on behalf of the Women’s Caucus for Item 4.9(e) on Gender Mainstreaming.  This statement highlights the need for a core post in the CBD on gender.  Right now that post is funded by voluntary funds and there is continual concern that the funds for this position will not be sustained unless it’s coming from core and increased funding. The post is necessary to enable member countries to fulfill their implementation of the CBD’s Gender Plan of Action, specifically:

• To mainstream a gender perspective into the implementation of the Convention and the associated work of the Secretariat
• To promote gender equality in achieving the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2020 Biodiversity Target
• To demonstrate the benefits of gender mainstreaming in biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing from the use of genetic resources; and
• To increase the effectiveness of the work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The statement received support from a number of countries. All supportive intervientions on gender were compiled and can be viewed here.

The work of the women’s causuc was highlighted in the Earth Negotiations Bulletin http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop10. 

A webcast of the session can be viewed here, http://webcast.cop10.go.jp/player.asp?id=2009&type=ondemand, please forward 32 minutes to see the Women’s Caucus intervention.