Parliamentarians discuss gender and climate change during the 10th gathering of the Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality
From Tuesday, May 22 to Thursday, May 24, ParlAmericas will host the 10th gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality: Gender-Responsive Climate Action, in collaboration with the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the city of Port of Spain.
During the gathering, which will be held in the parliament, parliamentarians from more than 20 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean will engage in dialogue on the critical nexus between gender and climate change, as well as the decisive role of parliaments in ensuring that countries adopt a gender-responsive approach to climate action and disaster risk reduction.
“I am honoured to welcome our colleagues from across the region to Trinidad and Tobago on this important occasion, ParlAmericas’ 10th annual gathering dedicated to gender equality. Over the course of the next three days, we will assess the principal resources at our disposal to strengthen climate resilience and women’s empowerment — issues which must go hand-in-hand,” stated the Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago), host of the gathering, and member of ParlAmericas Board of Directors. Speaker Annisette-George further emphasized that, “The identification of the available principal resources, however, is not enough. Gender responsive budgeting must be employed as a mechanism to help ensure that climate change and disaster risk reduction are addressed in a manner that effectively responds to the needs of all members of society.”
For the last ten years, the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality has been promoting women’s political leadership and gender mainstreaming in the agendas and operations of the national legislatures of the Americas and the Caribbean. It creates diverse and inclusive working spaces to further promote the shared agenda for gender equality in close collaboration with civil society partners.
Member of the Chamber of Deputies Karina Banfi (Argentina), President of the Network, commented that “Women are more likely to live in poverty and experience compounded social, political and economic barriers. They are therefore more likely to also experience greater risks related to climate change. We must include, value, and invest in women [and] remove the barriers to their participation in climate decision-making spaces.”
Senator Marcela Guerra (Mexico), President of ParlAmericas, affirmed that this gathering will be of critical importance, as “Parliaments play a vital role in achieving a development vision that recognizes the inherent links between gender equality and climate change impacts. In that sense, cooperation among the countries of the hemisphere is critical to promoting the exchange of best legislative practices for the adoption of gender-responsive climate change policies.”
For the most recent updates on the gathering, consult the agenda and follow @ParlAmericas on social media using the hashtag #ParlAmericasGender.
