This question is asked by Gro Lindstad, the director of FOKUS, Forum for Women and Development, in a letter to the Amir of Qatar.
FOKUS is a knowledge and resource center for international women’s issues. Its primary goal is to contribute to the improvement of women’s social, economic, and political situation internationally.
“FOKUS thinks it is about time to demand that the organizers of international climate conferences take responsibility for women’s participation. FOKUS demands that the organizers in Qatar get on the right track. So far, climate change negotiations have been dominated by “the boys’ club” and by technical, market oriented issues such as emission quotas. A focus on the significance of climate change for the poorest people in the world, and especially women, has been almost non-existent. We have addressed this issue, and wish to get the organizers in Qatar to work towards strengthening women’s participation on all levels in the negotiations,” explains Lindstad .
Lindstad points out that the newly launched UN high-level report on sustainable development, entitled “Resilient People, Resilient Planet,” emphasizes the importance of women’s participation on all levels in achieving sustainable development.
“Women’s active participation on all levels is an absolute requirement for a sustainable development,” she says. Lindstad espouses a strong belief in a constructive dialogue with the organizers. Over the last years, Qatar has demonstrated great progressiveness regarding the rights of women and children.
“The Amir of Qatar must prove that Qatar, as the organizing country, really wishes to take climate change negotiations several steps forward. The “boys’ club” has outlived its mandate, and must be replaced by negotiating teams that really want change,” concludes Lindstad.
Read the letter to His Highness the Amir of Qatar here
Press contacts:
Head of communication
Trine Tandberg Tel. +47 41440809
tt@fokuskvinner.no
Director
Gro Lindstad Tel. + 47 95054587
gl@fokuskvinner.no