Ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Yerevan in October, a discussion entitled “National Dialogue on Gender Equality, Biodiversity and COP17” was held on 29 September.
The discussion focused on promoting gender-responsive biodiversity management in Armenia, as well as increasing women’s participation in nature conservation and decision-making processes.
The representatives of government bodies, women-led and community-based non-governmental organisations, communities closely connected with natural resources, academic and research institutions, and international organisations participated in the meeting.
Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, highlighted the role of women in environmental protection, emphasising that, particularly in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss, women’s participation in decision-making processes is important for strengthening community resilience.
The discussion also addressed the interlinkages between gender equality, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development, as well as opportunities to expand cooperation among government institutions, civil society, communities, and international partners in these areas.
The event also served as an important preparatory platform for the Women’s Forum planned within the framework of COP17, providing an opportunity to formulate common priorities and approaches that will contribute to more meaningful participation of women in biodiversity management processes.