Hi All: I thought this might be of interest for some of you. Stefanie Rixecker ECOFEM Coordinator ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Date sent: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 17:00:47 -0700 From: Preston Hardison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Indigenous Women & Biodiversity Workshop To: Mountain Forum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send reply to: Preston Hardison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ] Apologies for Cross-posting English and Spanish Indigenous Women & Biodiversity Workshop March 30, 2000 Presented to the Plenary at the Ad-Hoc Open-Ended Inter- Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity Statement from the "Indigenous Women & Biodiversity" Workshop We live in a world where women's voices are often marginalized. This is especially true with respect to Indigenous Women's knowledge about the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In accordance with the principles established in the preamble of the CBD, It is critical that Indigenous Women be integral participants at every stage in carrying out the objectives, work plans and recommendations coming from the CBD. To be specific, we the International Indigenous Women, who met at a Workshop prior to this Working Group, have observed that women's concerns have not been adequately addressed in the documents prepared for this meeting. We therefore urge the Working Group to include reference to Indigenous Women and their participation in all recommendations made to the COP. In order to assist you, we propose that an additional element be added to the proposed programme of work, which specifically addresses the special role of women from indigenous and local communities. Such an essential element may consider the following: Element: Women of indigenous and local communities Task 1 Develop strategies, guidelines and proposals for securing the full, active and equal participation of women from indigenous and local communities within all elements set out in the programme of work. Task 2 Provide dedicated structural and financial support mechanisms to women within indigenous and local communities to: a) Develop strategies that ensure that their special knowledge and expertise are included in participatory mechanisms. b) Strengthen their capacity in conserving, maintaining and protecting biological diversity; c) Promote their networking and the exchange and dissemination of information on biological diversity; d) Develop cultural and gender appropriate ways in which to document and preserve women's knowledge of biodiversity; e) Produce case studies on the role of women's practices, activities and challenges in conserving, maintaining and protecting biological diversity; And, finally we urge the CBD to establish a moratorium on the appropriation and commercial application of traditional knowledge and biological materials. Women from indigenous and local communities consider that these activities constitute a form of biopiracy. ------------------------------ Taller de las mujeres indigenas y biodiversidad Marzo 30, 2000 Presented to the Plenary at the Ad-Hoc Open-Ended Inter- Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity Declaracion del taller de las mujeres indigenas y biodiversidad Vivimos en un mundo donde las voces de las mujeres frecuentement son marginalizadas, es especialmente verdadero cuando se trata del conocimiento de las mujeres indigenas sobre la conservacion y uso sustentable de la biodiversidad. De acuerdo a los principios establecidos en el preambulo del CBD, es critico que las mujeres de las comunidades indigenas y locales sean participantes integrales de los objetivos, planes de trabajo y recomendaciones del CBD. Para ser especifico, nosotras, las mujeres indigenes internacionales, quienes nos reunimos en el taller que antes de este grupo de trabajo, hemos observado que las inquietudes de lasa mujeres no han sido adecuatemente preparados en los documentos para esta reunion. Por lo tanto, pedimos a este grupo de trabajo que haga referencia a las mujeres de comunidades indigenes y locales y su participacion en todas las recomendaciones que haga a la COP. Para ayudarles, queremos proponer que se agregue un elemento a la propuesta de programa de trabajo, que trate especificamente el papel especial de las mujeres de comunidades indigenas y locales. Este elemento esencial puede considerar lo siguiente: Elemento: Mujeres de comunidades indigenas y locales Tarea: Desarollar estrategias, normas y propuestas para segurar la participacion plena, activa e equitativa de las mujeres de comunidades indigenas y locales dentro de todos los elementos del programma de trabajo. Tarea: Proveer estructuas y mecanismos de fondo dedicados a las mujeres dentro de las comunidades indigenas y locales para: a) Desarrollar estrategias que aseguren que sus conocimientos y experiencias especiales son incluidos en los mecanismos de participacion; b) Reforzar sus capcidades de conservacion, mantenmiento y la proteccion sobre diversidad biologicas; c) Promover sus vinculaciones e intercambio y diseminacion de inforacion sobre diversidad biologica; d) Desarrollar medios apropiados culturalmente y de genero en donde las mujeres puedan documentar y preservar sus conocimientos de diversidad biologica; y e) Producir cuadros de estudios sobre el papel de las mujeres de sus practicas, actividades de desatios de conservacion, mantenimiento y proteccion de diversidad biologica. Finalmente Urgimos que el CBD estableca una moratoria sobre la apropriacion y la aplicacion comerical de conocimientos y materias biologias. Las mujeres de comunidades indigenas y locales consideramos que estas actividades constituyen una forma de biopirateria. ************************************ Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker, Senior Lecturer Environmental Management & Design Division Lincoln University, Canterbury PO Box 84 Aotearoa New Zealand E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fax: 64-03-325-3841 ************************************
