Environment

Co-convenors : Carola de Boulloche, Bernadette von der Weid (International Council of Women)

Objective
The Working Group was organized in 1999 under the umbrella of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. It’s aim is to evaluate environmental changes on our planet and to consider whhat positive actions could be undertaken by women and to raise awareness of some errors in environmental decisions.

Among the main issues of concern to the WG are the following:

• Water; pollution, lack of water, transportation problems, etc.
• Habitat; all the numerous conditions to define healthy settlements.
• Agriculture: crops and genetically modified food.
• Toxic waste: Persistant Organic Pollution (POP) and environmental disasters.
• Climatic changes and desertification.
• Medical sciences and perspectives in bioethics.

The Working Group has been working to promote sensitivity to usefulness of consulting women from the grassroots. Women in general are more realistic and their good sense is able to change situations in a positive way the problems of water distribution, toxic smokes or unhealthy living.

The Working Group endeavours to encourage society to develop a responsible approach on environment and natural resources, and to teach children how to respect individual and societal values.

Activities
In June, 2000, a workshop was organized within the framework of the Forum of the Social Summit, Geneva 2000, where several experts on social development, food and environment were invited. This workshop helped the WG to define more accurately the principal themes to be studied, provided information necessary for grassroots women working in factories or homework, to raise their consciousness to their rights to a healthy environment.

In November 2001 the WG convened a joint seminar with the Working Group on Nutrition. Experts from WHO, the University of Zurich and ECE spoke about water, sanitation and health; gender and food security and the situation of women, environment and nutrition in Eastern and Central Europe.

Next meeting :