International Governance of Sustainable Development European Hearing Rio+20

1. International Governance of Sustainable Development European Hearing Rio+20 Sascha Gabizon, executive director WECF Women in Europe for a Common Future Women Rio+20 Steering Committee

2. UN GA RESOLUTION 64/236 (from 24/dec/2009)

3. Social and economic inequities are especially hard on women and children Women are 70% of the 1.3 billion poor More pressure on women from current food, fuel and financial crises Living with less than 1 dollar a day

4. The economy should support well-being for all within the carrying capacity of the planet Currently; most of humanity (women) and the planet are used for the economy of a few Priorities for women and international governance of SD

5. The vulnerable and poor cannot rely on market mechanisms alone They need rights to protect their lives and livelihoods A ‘green’ economic system must promote social equity and gender equity Link International Government and Green Economy Markets needs legal frameworks and incentives to assure equity

6. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SD GREEN ECONOMY SOCIAL ECONOMICAL ENVIRONMENTAL Linking IFSD x IEG x GE ? GAPS IN CURRENT SD COMMITMENTS E S M O I E G Existing Strong Multilateral Organizations ENVIRONMENTAL

7. Target: 40% women’s share in new green jobs Social protection floor- especially for women house-workers / informal sectors Regulation for safe, decent and healthy jobs(chemicals, radiation..) Beyond GDP The American way of life: obsolete Possible priorities for women and the Green Economy

8. Secure women’s property rights, land tenure, and control over natural resources Promote women’s access to finance, technologies, information, health care Enable women - and men - to combine their jobs with childcare Promote women in decision making in policy and business (e.g. Norway) Promote women’s economic contributions: enable them!

9. Outcome from Rio+20: Support an agreement to implement Rio Principle 10* Assure women’s equal access to information, public participation and justice * Examples exist a.o. in UNECE Aarhus Convention, Biosafety Protocol as essential elements of capacity-building, in many national legislations in all regions Possible priorities for women and international governance

10. Governance of financial and economic systems Abolishing perverse subsidies = cheapest way to sustainable development New funding for social and environmental protection, and women in GE: Financial Transaction Tax (tobin) Ocean levy Kerosene tax Mining/Primary extraction tax Making the economic sector work for society and environment

11. Which fits these objectives (form fits function): Bring environment ministers higher on the agenda Influence financial decisions with impact on the environment Assess and monitor new technologies before widespread use (geo-engineering, nanotech, ..) Provide new funding means, incl.soft funding Have the authority to improve coherence between international agencies Equitable, transparent, accountable, dispute settlement Strengthen international environmental governance structure

12. Fundamental reform: Cost reductions at the right places: review UN/Bretton Woods privileges Upgrade UNEP Cluster (the smaller) MEAs as with the 3 chemical conventions? Review of UN commissions - CSD, CSW.. Possible Options?

13. Bottom up - support local women’s organisations

14. Thank You