GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

Module 2:
International law instruments as a framework
for mainstreaming gender in climate change 1
In the past three decades numerous international instruments have been generated to ensure
gender equality and non-discrimination against women and to adopt measures related to
sustainable development. This includes declarations, conventions, platforms, action plans,
resolutions and agreements. They reflect the evolution of ideas and trends that guide the thinking
and action of States, international organizations, academia and civil society (Aguilar et al.,
2008).
43
Key messages
• UNFCCC is the only international treaty among the three “Rio
Conventions” that does not include gender;
• The importance of rights of women is guaranteed by international
instruments (CEDAW, ECOSOC Resolution 2005/31, Beijing Platform
for Action);
• Gender mainstreaming into climate change regimes and policies –
in particular UNFCCC and NAPAs – is not an issue of voluntary action,
but a legal obligation.
Climate change impacts affect environment, human rights, sustainable
development, health and all sectors of society. Positive action, if taken in
these areas, could decrease pressure from climate change. Even though the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the
Kyoto Protocol lack specific language related to gender, there are numerous
international legal instruments that mandate the incorporation of the gender
perspective which also apply to the existing climate change framework.
The importance of mainstreaming gender equality for the realization
of human rights, sustainable development and/or poverty eradication and
disaster reduction has been recognized in a series of international instruments.
1
The discussion on legal instruments draws heavily upon: Tobin, B. and Aguilar, L. (2007). Mainstreaming Gender Equality and
Equity in ABS Governance; and Aguilar, L. [In press]. Putting Words into Action…Analysis of the Status of Gender Mainstreaming
in the Main Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
Module 2