Group photograph with COMAGEND and Climate change actors
Vulnerability to climate change is acute in many parts of the world and its impact are not gender neutral.Due to thier gender defined roles in society and tradition pattern of marginalisation, women and girls are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For this reason Community Action for Gender development COMAGEND, under the supervision of Sally Mboumien has engaged actors familiar with this subject matter to review its policy brief and how this brief can be a working document.
Sally Mboumien, Coordinator COMAGEND facilitating discussions
In an over 3hrs session, the brief was presented alongside other short skits by advocates of Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The aim of the policy brief is to seek strategic and context specific ways to Localize the provision of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) in a manner that builds on indigenous practices that response to climate change. This implies that local action if well taken will change the narrative of the next year report.
The brief holds that women in Africa play a fundamental role providing their basic necessities such as food , water, fuel, medicine. Though these women and girls depend highly on their surrounding natural resources, due to climate change their surroundings are no longer meeting their needs.
The Commission on the Status of Women CSW66 that just ended in New York recognises the negative effects of climate change on women and girls. The outcome document cited loss of homes and livelihood , water scarcity, destruction and damage to schools and health facilities as impact of the current situation. The document stressed the urgency of eliminating persistent historical and structurally inequalities discriminating laws and policies, negative and social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Separation from support network, increased risk to all forms of violence and reduced access to employment, education and essential health care services, including sexual reproductive healthcare, service and psychosocial support.
Cross section of the hall
The commission proposed that stake holders should promote women and girls full participation in leadership to make natural resource management and climate environmente and disaster.
It is worth mentioning that Women and girls are taking climate and environmental actions at all levels but thier voice, agency, participation needs to be further supported, resourced, valued and recognised.
It emphasizes the need for women and girls to be given equal access and rights to important resources such as productive assets such as land , water, technology, technical advice and information that can result in the greater food security renewable energy, just resilience sustainable system for all.
The document stresses on fostering gender responsive, transitions, also adaptative approaches which will enhance the capacity of policy makers to develop and adopt effective evidence based policies and programmes at all levels and boost women and girls contribution to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Climate change actors and AGYW advocates
Year in year out resolutions are taken in New York hoping for the improvement of the wellbeing of women and girls especially those in conflict affected areas like Cameroon. The biggest question is to what extent are these resolutions applicable in local communities? This question set the ball rolling for discussion in session. Pedmia Shatu, Executive director for Global Initiative for Digital Inclusion and Communication (GIDICom) mentioned that the media through all its arms of communication could be used to expand the resolutions of such a gathering and even give visibility to the work AGYW advocates are doing in their communities.
Pedmia Shatu, Executive director for Global Initiative for Digital Inclusion and Communication (GIDICom)
Local council authorities held that the actions of climate change must begin from sensitization for the population to first understand the concept of climate change before mitigation and adaptation.
At the close of that day, it was relevant as put by Tah Kennette of Society for the Promotion of initiatives in Sustainable development (SOPISDEW)
Tah Kennette of Society for the Promotion of initiatives in Sustainable development (SOPISDEW)
that all actors present to build a community of practice implying friends of the subject matter meeting from time to time and see how to affect policy and provoke transformational change.
Tabot Florence
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