Environment

Through their management and use of natural resources, women provide sustenance to their families and communities. As consumers and producers, caretakers of their families and educators, women play an important role in promoting sustainable development.

The deterioration of natural resources results in negative effects on the health, well-being and quality of life of the population at large, especially girls and women of all ages.

However, women, who are rarely formally trained as natural-resource managers, remain largely absent from decision-making and have their experience and skills too often marginalized. Despite the leadership role played by women's organizations, institutional coordination with national bodies is very weak.

The Platform recommends action to:
• Involve women actively in environmental decision-making at all levels, including as managers, designers and planners, and as implementers and evaluators of environmental projects;
• Integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable development;
• Strengthen or establish mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to assess the impact of development and environment policies on women.

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