This June the UN will hold high-level talks about developmental sustainability at the Rio  + 20 conference.  One of the key issues that will be on the agenda is women and environmental sustainability.

In the developing world women are disproportionately reliant upon forests for the well-being of their households (Forests and Gender) whether it is gathering firewood,  fuel, fibre and/or medicines (FAO).

The women’s working committee who will speak on behalf of women worldwide have put the following action items (Women Rio+20) on the table:

• Gender equality in all spheres of our societies: education, employment, ownership and control over resources, access to justice, political representation, institutional decision- making, care giving and household and community management.
• Respect for human rights and social justice: building societies based on respect for human rights of all people, ensuring social protection, sustainable livelihoods and environmental security, and fair distribution of the earth’s natural and economic resources.
• Environmental conservation and protection of human health: creating societies which function within the earth’s ability to support life and human livelihoods, preventing disruptive climatic changes as well as pollution and contamination of ecosystems and human settlements.

Follow the conversation and updates at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development’s Women’s page.

Photo: © Razvanjp