[Voice & Visibility] Amplifying Gender Justice in Climate Action through CEDAW Training
14 September 2022
Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) is excited to reflect on the success of the CEDAW refresher and inception seminar held in Kuala Lumpur. This event, which took place on September 13, 2022, was a cornerstone of the Voice & Visibility initiative — an environmental justice program that integrates a feminist and gender perspective in Asia.
The Essence of CEDAW in Environmental Justice
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides an international bill of rights for women. Its principles are fundamental in guiding our approach to environmental justice, particularly when addressing the impacts of climate change. The seminar served as a vital platform to revisit CEDAW’s principles and how they can be effectively applied using an environmental justice lens, tools, and strategies.
Cross-Sector Collaboration for Inclusive Change
We were honoured to have Marisa Hutchinson, the Environmental Justice Program Officer at IWRAW AP, who is also working under the Women’s Gender Constituency WGC under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The seminar’s attendees included a dynamic mix of representatives from women’s rights groups, Indigenous youth, human rights, and environmental organisations from Peninsula Malaysia. Their participation and contributions were crucial in shaping the discussions and outcomes of the seminar.
Our Commitment to Gender-Responsive Climate Action
The seminar underscored the importance of gender justice in the fight for climate justice. No climate action can be deemed just or effective if it overlooks the disparate impacts of climate change on different genders. Women, especially those from marginalised communities, often bear the brunt of environmental degradation and disasters, and their voices and experiences are essential in devising equitable climate solutions.
Outcomes and Forward Momentum
During the seminar, participants engaged in deep discussions on General Recommendation 37 on Gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change. This dialogue was essential in understanding how gender norms and inequalities influence vulnerability to climate impacts and in identifying strategic actions to integrate a gender-responsive approach into environmental justice frameworks.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Marisa for her expert insights, and to all the participants who enriched the seminar with their perspectives. It is with a collective spirit and shared dedication to gender justice that we will advance in our environmental justice endeavors.
There is no Climate Justice without Gender Justice!
