The 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will focus on “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.”
Among UNFPA priorities is to impart the impact of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence and harmful practices and bodily autonomy and to advocate for gender-sensitive climate resilience to protect and advance progress on the three transformative results.
Gender inequality undermines climate resiliency. For societies to better adapt to and mitigate climate change, their populations must be empowered. Yet in too many places, that is not the reality. It is neither a shock or secret that empowering women and girls is essential for sustainable development. Taking their needs, including building gender-responsive health systems that can function in the wake of natural disasters, into account is fundamental to climate action.
Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem is scheduled to deliver the keynote at a side event on “Bodily autonomy – a fundamental right” (16 March) as well as opening remarks at a side event on “Building in accountability to deliver on the ICPD25 and Beijing+25 agendas for all women and girls” (18 March) featuring UNFPA Patron H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as a panelist. Dr. Kanem is also planning to participate in a “High-level political event on accelerating investment to end female genital mutilation” (22 March) and “Climate justice - women, girls and birthing persons of African Descent” (23 March).
The schedule of side events and registration information can be found here.
Watch the events:
18 March – Accountability for all women and girls: delivering on the ICPD and Beijing agendas
23 March – Climate Justice & Women, Girls, and Birthing Persons of African Descent
