Side event details

Session description:

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.

94% of Contracting Parties reporting to COP15 indicated that they are taking actions to promote gender balance in wetland-related decision-making and research—a commendable increase from 79% as reported at COP14. However, only 11% reported collecting gender-disaggregated data on participation in wetland decision-making and programmes. Without gender-disaggregated data, women’s roles, perspectives, and participation in wetland conservation are invisible, significantly limiting the ability to design, implement, and evaluate policies that effectively address their specific needs and contributions.

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 women and wetlands during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention.

Session objectives:

1. Showcase the transformative role of women leaders in wetland conservation at all levels, highlight the challenges women face linked to representation and meaningful participation in decision-making, inequitable sharing of benefits from wetland resources and their vulnerability linked to climate change.
2. Identify pathways for policy reform and actions that elevate women’s leadership including Sharing practical strategies and tools to collect information and data specific to women's contributions in wetland conservation and wise use.
3. Outline a call to action for addressing these challenges and accelerating the deployment of women-led solutions for the wise use of wetlands. [OS1] 
4. Launch of a granting mechanism focused on identifying women-led solutions for the wise use of wetlands

Session outcomes:

The session will bring together high-level representatives from IUCN, Ramsar Secretariat and Contracting Parties together with women leaders changemakers on the frontlines of wetlands conservation and restoration. The format will be facilitated and interactive dialogue addressing the session aims. And leading to the following outcomes:

• Case studies of women-led initiatives inspire action but also critically examine structural barriers to gender equality in wetland governance.
• Practical tools, data collection strategies, and approaches to recognize and amplify women’s contributions to the wise use of wetlands are highlighted.
• Momentum is created to accelerate the implementation of the resolution to tackle key challenges and scale up women-led solutions for the wise and sustainable use of wetlands.
• A granting mechanism is established focused on identifying women-led solutions for the wise use of wetlands.