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Target 23:
Ensure Gender Equality and a Gender-Responsive Approach for Biodiversity Action

Ensure gender equality in the implementation of the Framework through a gender-responsive approach, where all women and girls have equal opportunity and capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention, including by recognizing their equal rights and access to land and natural resources and their full, equitable, meaningful and informed participation and leadership at all levels of action, engagement, policy and decision-making related to biodiversity.

Introduction

There is a need to recognize the connection between gender equality and key environmental issues. The goal is to minimise the gap between these issues and maximise synergy, working together towards common goals and the implementation of the Biodiversity Agreement. It's important to acknowledge power imbalances and structural barriers that hinder the inclusion of entire communities. A holistic approach to implementation can help prioritise and amplify the voices of girls and women, especially those facing multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination. The aim is to create a supportive and inclusive approach with the goal of achieving gender equality in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair distribution of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

Policy Proposals for National Implementation

  • Intensify efforts to build competence in both academic and policy-oriented environments regarding the role of women in biodiversity conservation.
  • Build competence of female biodiversity champions and provide spaces for them to exercise advocacy and leadership.
  • Increase attention on women's roles in supply chains based on biodiversity. Work should be done to include women in the implementation of the framework. By focusing on respecting, preserving, and safeguarding the traditional knowledge and methods of Nordic indigenous women, as well as their rights related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, this must be prioritised in the management tasked with implementation.

Policy Proposals for Inter­national Implementation

  • Develop a strategy for gender responsiveness in all international projects aimed at biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.
  • The Gender Plan of Action should serve as a guide for Nordic countries’ facilitating equal access to rights, including economic rights, education, training, information, and other necessary resources and technologies that contribute to the management, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity, should be prioritised through targeted measures in development cooperation.
  • Increase the level of gender integration in biodiversity finance, including contributions to biodiversity projects with gender equality as a principal objective and gender transformative approaches.