Side event details | Convention on Wetlands Contacts Database

Gender positive action to accelerate wetland protection and restoration

Room

Kalala

Day and time

28.07.2025 13:30

Lead organization

IUCN

Partner organization(s)

Ramsar Convention Secretariat, GWP (tbc), African Wildlife Foundation (tbc), Joint River Basin Authorities-Project Board Eswatini (tbc), Contracting party focal points for Colombia, Czech Republic & Mexico (tbc)

Details

Women are essential in the management, protection and restoration of wetland resources, particularly water. Recognizing their vital role, the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands adopted Resolution XIII.18 on Gender and Wetlands in 2018. This resolution highlights the need to integrate gender considerations into implementation of the Convention. To accelerate this work, the Secretariat established a Women in Wetlands initiative. As an IOP with a matching goal of prioritising gender responsive action in water and wetlands management and restoration, IUCN is joining forces with Ramsar Secretariat, IUCN Members and Partners as well as Contracting Parties focal points to facilitate a high level dialogue on gender and wetlands during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention. This side event aims to 1) showcase how women are on the frontlines of the fight to protect and restore wetland resources; 2) the challenges women face due to gender inequalities linked to representation and meaningful participation in decision-making, inequitable sharing of benefits from wetland resources and their vulnerability linked to climate change, gender-based violence etc. and; 3) outline call to action for addressing these challenges and accelerating the deployment of women-led solutions for the wise use of wetlands. The expected outcomes of this side event are: An update on the status of Resolution XIII.18 implementation and summary of the results and future actions from contracting parties to accelerate women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming through concrete actions and initiatives, and the launch of a granting mechanism focused on identifying women-led solutions for the wise use of wetlands. The session will bring together high level representatives from IUCN, Ramsar Secretariat and Contracting Parties together with women champions on the frontlines of wetlands conservation and restoration. The format will be facilitated and interactive dialogue addressing the session aims.

Program