Women Engage for a Common Future
| Women Engage For A Common Future (WECF) |
|
|---|---|
| purpose | Creating a just, sustainable and healthy environment |
| Chair: | Sascha Gabizon |
| Establishment date: | 1994, the Netherlands |
| Number of members: | 150 partner organizations |
| Number of employees: | 20-50 |
| Seat : | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Website: | www.wecf.eu |
Women Engage for a Common Future ( WECF ) is a non-governmental organization that was founded in 1994 following the World Summit in Rio (1992). The aim of the organization is to create a just, sustainable and healthy environment for everyone. WECF is a network of more than 150 women's and environmental organizations in 50 countries worldwide. The organization works at national, European, UN and international political level with the aim of increasing the influence of women in political decision-making processes.
history
WECF was founded in 1994 in the Netherlands. During the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, women from the European region came together to create the WECF network because they recognized the role of women as a catalyst in sustainable development, as stated in the United Nations report "Our Common Future" is defined. The philosophy has always been to ensure that the voices of women and marginalized groups are politically heard, and to combine this with local action in which they make their priorities a reality. The WECF e. V. in Germany is a non-profit association, a member of the international WASH network, which aims to promote public health care, environmental protection and gender equality.
aims
WECF believes that a sustainable future and environment require holistic solutions that reflect the lives of local people. They implement feminist solutions based on the visions and needs of their partners. You are committed to gender equality and the full realization of women's human rights in connection with climate justice, sustainable energy and chemicals, less toxic waste, safe water and sanitation for all.
Main themes
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WECF works on gender equality with interfaces in the following three areas:
- Sustainable development - WECF is committed to the unrestricted realization of human rights, development justice and the right to a healthy environment for everyone, regardless of gender, age, origin, sexual identity, education, religion, skills or socio-economic status. They want a sustainable future where polluters and governments are held accountable and human rights, health and the environment take precedence over trade deals and other economic interests.
- Climate protection - WECF mobilizes people for climate justice and shows how human rights and gender equality can be guaranteed in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. They support local community groups in creating sustainable energy funds and cooperatives while promoting gender equality and leadership for women. They take part in global climate negotiations with their local partners, exchange best practices and take action against incorrect climate protection measures such as nuclear and fossil fuels.
- Healthy Environment Free from Toxins - WECF calls for justice for victims of pollution from chemicals, radioactive materials and other sources, as well as action to protect human rights defenders in the environment. They promote non-toxic and non-chemical alternatives on the basis of the principles formulated at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992: polluter pay, reversal of the burden of proof, the precautionary principle and principle 10 to ensure public participation, transparency and access to justice.
approach
WECF takes a three-part approach to mobilize for sustainable and equitable change:
- "Capacity Building" - WECF trains, imparts specialist knowledge and offers funding to women and equality organizations. In doing so, they support them in their work for climate justice, an ecologically sustainable future and gender equality.
- Politics - WECF urges policy makers at local and global levels to include gender equality and women's perspectives in policies and implementation plans. They do this by supporting the participation of their partners in decision-making processes, running regional and international campaigns for gender equality and monitoring political events.
- Public Relations - WECF organizes campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of gender-equitable climate and environmental solutions. They organize social media campaigns with their partners, e.g. B. #FeministDemand and send open letters to decision makers. They also provide small grants for partners and organize public debates, street actions and awards ceremonies.
United Nations
The organization has observer status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is an official partner of the United Nations Environment Program . WECF is a member of the European Environment and Health Committee . They are also partners of the Women's Major Group and the constituency for women and gender.
WECF at the United Nations Rio + 20 Summit on Sustainable Development 2012
In June 2012, more than 50,000 representatives of social movements and civil society organizations took to the streets in Rio de Janeiro to demonstrate against unfair and unsustainable economic policies. At the same time, 30,000 participants in the Rio + 20 conference of the United Nations contributed to the document "The Future We Want", which paved the way for sustainable development goals (instead of the Millennium Development Goals). The WECF assumed a leading role at the Rio + 20 conference in 2012 as co-moderator of the Women's Major Group, one of the nine civil society groups that have speaking time in the UN policy process and contribute to the proposed negotiating text. The role of the WECF was to support the 300 organizations through virtual and face-to-face meetings, to develop joint proposals for the negotiation text, to organize meetings with the negotiators of the countries and to organize events at which the priorities of the women's organizations are presented.
organization
Today WECF has five offices in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland and Georgia. WECF has a dual governance system. Formal oversight of the Executive Directors and their team is carried out by the Board of Trustees (BOT). Their job is to approve the annual plans, budgets and reports and to oversee the work of the WECF directors. The WECF partners can also have a say through the International Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB's role is to provide strategic advice to the BOT and the directors of WECF. The IAB is also critical to developing joint funding, advocacy and campaigning strategies.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Vision & Strategy. Retrieved January 15, 2019 .
- ^ Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF). WASH network, accessed on February 23, 2019 (German, development aid).
- ↑ laurence: Home. In: Women's Major Group. Retrieved January 15, 2019 (American English).