Statement

Message from Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, on the Occasion of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2007

As major stakeholders in the Convention on Biological Diversity, women have a special relation with nature in general and biodiversity in particular. In most countries, the survival of women, their well-being and empowerment depend on biodiversity. For women in developing countries, particularly in the least developed countries, biodiversity is vital for their survival and the survival of their families. Biodiversity is also part and parcel of their belief system and their cultural and spiritual values. It is for these reasons that the preamble of the Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes “the vital role that women play in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity” and affirms “the need for the full participation of women at all levels of policy-making and implementation for biological diversity conservation”.

Publication Date
2007-03-08