Women’s leadership in climate response and recovery at the center of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

Speaking at the opening of the main global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to advancing gender equality, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed that CSW66 was a critical moment for commitments to act then. that it takes place amid ongoing crises, conflicts and COVID-19. 19 pandemic.

“The interrelated crises we face today continue to compound each other’s impacts as threat multipliers,” Ms. Bahous said. “But women are the solution multipliers.”

This year’s Commission on the Status of Women runs from March 14-25, in a hybrid virtual and in-person format. This year’s discussions revolve around the theme “Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls in the context of climate change, environment and mitigation policies and programs”. disaster risk”.

Executive Director Sima Bahous then highlighted the importance of establishing agreed outcomes from the session that will set the global community on the right path to achieving sustainability and equality.

“The agreed conclusions of this Commission can pave the way for global resilience and recovery. This path must be guided by the Sustainable Development Goals; and be underpinned by gender equality and a commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy, peace and justice,” she said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the importance of charting a way forward that recognizes the critical intersections of gender inequality and the climate crisis and its impacts, and ensures women’s leadership in decision making.

“We are still living with the results of millennia of patriarchy that exclude women and prevent their voices from being heard. We cannot achieve any of our goals without everyone’s contribution. And that’s why everyone, including men and boys, should work for women’s rights and gender equality. said Secretary General António Guterres. “The Paris agreement is essential for the rights of women and girls. Addressing biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution are key to creating a dignified life for all and a healthy planet. But we won’t get there without the full and equal participation and leadership of women.

Echoing the importance of women’s voices and experiences at the heart of solutions, Joanita Babirye, youth representative and leader of the Generation Equality Action Coalition for Feminist Action for Climate Justice, drew attention to the need to leave no one behind in commitments to act on climate change, especially marginalized and indigenous communities who depend on the environment for their livelihoods.

“In many ways, these negotiations act as a mirror of the world, helping us see the power imbalances that fuel gender inequality,” Babirye said. “Once we see these imbalances, we can build strategies that dismantle them. We must act collectively because, as we all know, there is no gender justice without climate justice.

The opening session also saw the election of His Excellency Antje Leendertse from Germany, Mr. Maris Burbergs from Latvia and Ms. Song Hye Ryoung from the Republic of Korea as Vice-Chairpersons of the Commission.