Women environmental human rights defenders side event at South America RCF

Environmental human rights defenders play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and climate action. But they face serious threats, such as gender-based violence and murder, especially in Indigenous communities. These threats compromise their ability to carry out their advocacy work. Women, because of their dual status as defenders and women, are particularly vulnerable to these forms of violence.

This article was originally published on the website of our Peruvian partner Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SPDA). Header photo © Cristian Diaz / SPDA

On 15 October at the IUCN South American Conservation Forum (RCF), experts and Indigenous women leaders from Peru, Ecuador and international organisations shared views on the current situation of women environmental human rights defenders at the event “Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders: experiences and strategies from the territories, and opportunities of international fora” at the RCF in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Women defenders in the frontline

The event was attended by Grettel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN, who stressed that it is women who are in the front line of defence of communities’ territories. She also pointed out that ‘Indigenous women are at double risk. Because of being Indigenous and because of being women’. For this reason, she pointed out that it is not possible for the IUCN to conserve natural resources without them.

Opportunities CBD COP16

Silvana Baldovino, Director of the Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples Programme of the SPDA, discussed how the different global frameworks that exist can be used to develop strategies that contribute to the protection of women environmental defenders.

‘The international tools are there, but the idea is to challenge ourselves to think about how we are going to use these tools in important spaces such as the COP16,’ she says. In addition, she stressed that there are two important approaches to consider and position in these key spaces: gender and interculturality.

‘The COP16 is a critical moment: there are many opportunities. It is a moment to highlight the importance of the Tropical Andes and our Amazonian territories. It is a time to grab our tools and demand that they are properly implemented, and to empower our spokeswomen,’ she adds.

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Main outcomes of the side event

During the event in Santa Marta, IUCN NL’s Liliana Jáuregui and Ana Di Pangracio from the Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) emphasised the various threats faced by women human rights defenders, as well as the various frameworks and tools that contribute to combating them, such as the Escazú Agreement.

A panel with Indigenous women leaders from Peru and Ecuador shared their experiences as environmental defenders from their territories: Aide Chaeta from the Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River and its tributaries (FENAMAD), Fanny Kaekat Utitiajla from the Regional Union of Indigenous Peoples of Atalaya (URPIA) and Maribel Camayteri from the Shuar Arutam People (PSHA).

The three agreed on how the various threats contribute to an obstacle in their work in defence of the environment and that there is a need for greater coordination between organisations and demands to the states.

A report will be drafted from the event, with recommendations to guarantee safe spaces and support networks for the communities, while promoting human rights, gender justice and environmental protection.

Global picture

Globally, human rights defenders face constant risks. The situation is particularly alarming in South America. The region continues to record some of the highest rates of killings and attacks, with Colombia, Brazil and Peru standing out among the most dangerous countries for environmental human rights defenders.

In the face of these threats, international commitments such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Escazu Agreement are essential to ensure a just and sustainable world. These agreements not only seek to protect Indigenous peoples and local communities, but are also fundamental to safeguarding human rights, promoting a safe environment for their work.

PIDDA: inclusive protection of environmental defenders

SPDA and IUCN NL, together with Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes (FENAMAD) and Comité de Gestión de la Reserva Nacional Tambopata (CDG), strengthen the work of environmental defenders, especially women and youth, in Madre de Dios in Peru. We do this, among other things, by strengthening the country’s protection system for environmental rights defenders, applying a gender and intercultural approach. PIDDA is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD).