Women as the Voice for the Right to a Healthy Environment

WECF took part in the UNECE "Environment for Europe" Conference from October 10 - 12, 2007 in Belgrade, Serbia and held its own network meeting

01.05.2007 | WECF Event

Countries:	Serbia
Donors:	European Commission, DG Environment; Ministry of Housing Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM), The Netherlands
Partners:	Environmental Ambassadors, UNEP, all WECF members
Issues:	Gender & Rights
Duration:	05/2007 - 10/2007

Background

The “Environment for Europe” process is a unique partnership of the member States within the UNECE region, organizations of the United Nations system represented in the region, other intergovernmental organizations, regional environment centers, non-governmental organizations and other major groups that take a part in improving environmental protection and sustainable development issues in Europe.

WECF goals

For WECF the Ministerial Conference was all about lobbying for a safe environment, more public participation, promoting sustainable development and networking with other NGOs, government organizations, institutions and individuals.
This occurred before, during and after the actual event. In the run-up to the conference papers, statements and documents were compiled, and the agenda and issues;developed gradually. This was a crucial time for seriously trying to influence the proceedings.
WECF intervened during the final plenary session of the Ministerial Conference. The full intervention can be found here.

WAVE and WECF network meeting

WECF started off with the WAVE (Women as a Voice for the Environment) Conference at the Sava Center in Belgrade on Wednesday, October 10, the first day of the Ministerial Conference.
Women's participation and experience are central to environmental management and sustainable development. Therefore UNEP brought women's voices to the forefront of the environmental agenda in a landmark event, the Global Women’s Assembly on Environment, “Women As the Voice of the Environment” (WAVE), which took place in Nairobi, October 2004, intending to make women's crucial roles in conservation and sustainable development visible to all. A Manifesto on Women and Environment was written with concrete policy recommendations and a portfolio of specific project ideas.

The speakers during the WAVE lunch, Oct 10, 2007

Exactly three years later, WECF had the privilege, in coordination with Environmental Ambassadors Serbia and UNEP, to coordinate the follow up to that meeting. The first event was a High Level Lunch, taking place in conjunction with the Environment for Europe Ministerial conference in Belgrade, Serbia (Oct 10-12).
The lunch brought together female environment and health Ministers, and leading women from other government functions and UN organizations, with women’s environmental leaders from NGOs, women’s organizations and business, under the banner of “Women as the Voice for the Right to a Healthy Environment.” NGO representatives presented key concerns and policy recommendations from their regions and focused on the implementation of the right to a healthy environment for all, and women’s leadership role herein. The press release for the WAVE lunch can be found here.

WECF Network Meeting

The meeting brought together the WECF network. Together we reflected on our goals and visions for the coming years, developed strategies for reaching these goals and talked about possibilities of cooperation and project development. Innovative dialog and strategy tools were used in achieving this.

Small Group of Speakers during the WAVE lunch.

The meeting was a chance for new and old members to get to know each other, and to discuss their own projects and issues at home. An inspiring poster gallery of different WECF member organisation drew much attention as did the diverse capacity building workshops; gender training, local community work, international lobbying and the Aarhus Convention.

Overview of Belgrade events

October 7 - 9: NGO / Eco-Forum Conference
October 10 - 12: 6th UNECE Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe"
October 12 - 15: WAVE (October 13, 2007) and WECF network meeting (October 14-15, 2007)
October 16: MFS meeting

Presentations during WAVE and the WECF Network Meeting

Eco-Forum and the EfE process by Victoria Elias - a look at the 6th Ministerial Conference and the position adopted by Eco-Forum.
Access to Sanitation by Diana Iskreva - how can adequate sanitation be brought to Europe?
Improvement of sanitation in rural areas of Armenia by Emma Anakhasyan.
Breastcancer - a human rights issue? by Helen Lynn.
Environmental Justice - helping to build bridges to the future by Tamara Steger.
IPEP - The International POPs Elimination Programme by Olga Speranskaya.
Afghanistan and Katachel e.V. by Sybille Schnehage. Humanitarian aid in Northern Afghanistan.
MAMA-86 and public lobbying campaigns by Anna Golubovska-Onisimova.
The Lessons from Mayak are not learned by Nadjesda Kutepova. Looking at the effects of the worst nuclear distaster in Russia.
Biodiversity for Europe by Sabine Brückmann. How biodiversity is essential to life in Europe and beyond.
Consequences for Policy Makers by Gordana. How NGOs and networks can affect policy-making in Europe.
Nesting by Sonja Haider. A new campaign and Internet site for a healthy start into life for your baby.

WECF Network Meeting

Challenges for Life and Wellbeing in Central Asia by the Central Asian Alliance for Water. How sanitation and water supply are spread from the bottom up.
Health and Environment Alliance by Monica Guarinoni. HEAL is focussing on pesticides and nanotechnology.
Right to a healthy workplace by Tatiana Santos. What is means to work in a healthy environment from a Trade Unions perspective.
WECF - from the past to present in pictures by Sascha Gabizon.

Apple - Biodiversity Action

Part of the WECF contribution to the 6th Ministerial Conference was a biodiversity action. The whole WECF network participated. More...

WAVE

The lunch programme.
The conference programme.
The draft declaration.
The Rights to a Healthy Environment backgrounder.
The Flyer.

Related News

Astonishing Findings of a New Research on Chemical Pesticides in Armenia by WECF Partner AWHHE
A research conducted in 2011 by WECF Armenian partner AWHHE revealed a threatening extent of toxic pesticides in more than 60 samples such as water, soil, air, cow’s milk and egg
02.02.2012 | WECF

WECF and Eco-Accord Report of the 7th ‘Environment for Europe’ Ministerial Conference, 2011, Astana
WECF and Eco-Accord presented the report of the Seventh ‘Environment for Europe’ Ministerial Conference, held on 22-23 September 2011 in Astana, Kazakhstan
10.01.2012 | WECF news

EECCA NGO Appeal on toys safety
After the discussion between the NGOs and EU presidency on key issues of the Environment for Europe process on 23 September 2011 in Astana, EECCA NGO made an appeal on toys safety.
19.10.2011 | WECF news

NGOs get organised for the 7th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Astana
WECF is supporting the European Eco-Forum, which is an alliance of some 200 Environmental NGOs in the UNECE region, to effectively participate in the 7th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference which is taking place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 21 - 23 of September
13.09.2011 | Sascha Gabizon

Launch of the European Family Conference - WECF speaks on support of Child Norm
“Social inclusion of families and EU Policies: Where do we stand?”
14.10.2010

Denmark: Ban on Bisphenol A in Food for Young Children
On the basis of a new assessment by the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Food), the Danish government has, together with the Danish People's Party, decided to invoke the principle of precaution and introduce a temporary national ban on bisphenol A in materials in contact with food for children aged 0 – 3 years
30.03.2010 | Flexnews

Video: CEHAPE Awards at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WHO European Region on Environment and Health
Eight winning projects have received Children's Environment and Health Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) Awards at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WHO European Region on Environment and Health
25.03.2010

Parma 2010: The right to safe water and sanitation in schools
WECF Side Event at Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Parma 2010
17.03.2010 | WECF press release

Parma 2010: Report of 5th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
Strengthening implementation of children’s environmental health programmes – 53 countries of the European, Caucasus and Central Asian region adopt ministerial declaration with clear targets and commitments
16.03.2010 | WECF report on Parma

Countries pledge to eradicate asbestos diseases
Ends daily reports on WECF's work at Ministerial Conference in Parma
15.03.2010 | Ends daily

Parma 2010: Competition rewards environmental projects that save children’s lives
Eight winning projects have received Children's Environment and Health Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) Awards at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WHO European Region on Environment and Health
10.03.2010

Call for a Child Norm
Call for a 'child norm': a standard to improve the quality of life for children starting from their needs and not those of adults
06.03.2010 | COFACE and Gezinsbond

Binnenlucht: verborgen gevaar in baby’s slaapkamer
Europees vrouwen- en milieunetwerk WECF publiceert resultaten van studie naar binnenlucht kwaliteit in kinderkamers in vier Europese landen volgende week op Ministeriële Conferentie “ Milieu en Gezondheid” in Parma , Italië
05.03.2010 | WECF the Netherlands Press Release

Parma 2010: “Binnenlucht: verborgen gevaar in baby’s slaapkamer”
Europees vrouwen- en milieunetwerk WECF publiceert resultaten van studie naar binnenlucht kwaliteit in kinderkamers in vier Europese landen volgende week op Ministeriële Conferentie “ Milieu en Gezondheid” in Parma , Italië
05.03.2010 | WECF the Netherlands Press Release

Parma 2010: Indoor air - a hidden danger in children's bedroom
Babies and young children exposed to high doses of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in indoor environments: WECF publishes results of European study on indoor air quality in children's rooms, to be presented at next week’s Ministerial Conference "Environment and Health" in Parma
04.03.2010 | WECF Press Release

WECF and nine partners at start up meeting Project Nesting the Netherlands
"Parents themselves are responsibles for the choices they make for their children and can also be more active for better legistlation concerning hazardous chemicals in baby products"
19.02.2010

WECF and nine partners present at start up meeting Project Nesting the Netherlands
"Parents themselves are responsibles for the choices they make for their children and should be more active for better legistlation concerning hazardous chemicals in baby products"
19.02.2010

Parma: WECF coordinator for environmental NGOs at 5th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Parma, 10-12 March 2010
The preparations for the next WHO Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health are fully underway. Here is a letter to the NGO's concerned.
10.02.2010 | Olivia Radu

WAVE Belgrade Declaration- adopted
120 participants from 30 countries call for the Right to a Healthy Environment
13.11.2007 | Jasmine Osorio

WAVE Lunch - Environment for Europe conference, Belgrade
Women Environmental Ministers join UNEP Executive Director and Grassroots Women Leaders in Support of a Women’s Agenda for the Right to a Healthy Environment.
11.10.2007 | Clarie Greensfelder

WAVE conference
Women as the Voice for the Right to a Healthy Environment
31.08.2007 | Chantal van den Bossche