WAVE Lunch - Environment for Europe conference, Belgrade
Women Environmental Ministers join UNEP Executive Director and Grassroots Women Leaders in Support of a Women’s Agenda for the Right to a Healthy Environment.
11.10.2007 |Clarie Greensfelder
Sabine Brückmann at the WECF stand with Jacqueline Cramer, the Dutch Environment Minister
delegates, citizen organizations and the international press sponsored by Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Women as a Voice for the Environment (WAVE) and the Environmental Ambassadors (from Serbia), three women environmental ministers – two former and one present, were joined by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Program in support of including grassroots women’s concerns in the UNECE -- Environment for Europe -- deliberations.
Sascha Gabizon, WECF International Director during the WAVE lunch
Women Environmental Professionals and United Nations’ Officials Speak out on Women’s Experience and Contribution to the Creation of a Healthy Environment
Helen Bjornoy, the Minister of Environment from Norway gave clear credit to the women’s movement for her rise not only to being the most prominent woman in environmental advocacy in Norway, but also to the realization of her earlier career as a Lutheran minister, saying that without the encouragement of women’s activism, it is doubtful that she would have had the ability to create such a strong public life. She said that women have an important role to play in Europe’s environment – bringing together a community that she believes is often needlessly splintered into small, separate groups working, for example, on climate, biodiversity, toxics, and energy policy.
“Women have some expertise about how to do more than give small solutions,” Bjornoy stated. “There are three answers on how women can build bridges to the future – continuing the struggle for women’s rights, networking, and making the connections on the issues.”
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP and former Director General of the World Conservation Union praised the organizers of the event:
“I am particularly pleased with the way that you have chosen to link the environment with gender and with health.”
Achim Steiner, Head of UNEP
Steiner announced that he was launching a new, five- person strategic implementation team, essentially, the “Blue Berets” of UNEP and that he had specifically has named Janet Macharia as a member of the team to serve as a strategic advisor on gender. Steiner stated:
“I would like to have gender issues become more and more part of how [UNEP] breathes, thinks and acts.” He continued: “What you are doing is very important. We will continue to work with you, and with the networks – WEDO (the Women’s Environment and Development Organization) the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and WECF – together, we can make a difference.”
Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director of Women in Europe for a Common Future (and former associate at the Wuppertal Institute in Germany), responded:
“Be assured that we will work with you [Steiner and UNEP] especially to bring the voices of grassroots women up to the decision making level.” noting that in contrast to the leaders in the room, Gabizon displayed a photo from the recent meeting of the G-8 where only one woman was present.
“We want to ensure more participation in decision making by women and other groups who are less well represented at the policy negotiation tables.”
Andjelka Mihajlov, former Environmental Minister for Serbia, currently representing Environmental Ambassadors, one of the co-sponsors of the event told the group:
“In the Eastern European countries, women are the most affected by both environmental and energy insecurity, and as a result, we are often more motivated that men for our future.” Mihaljov, who holds a PhD in chemical engineering, continued:
“We are working very hard to promote sustainable consumption patterns, advocating for green procurement at the governmental level and promoting partnerships between women and men, NGO’s and governments. Only if we work together can we make real change.”
Download the press release.
