From November 30 to December 11, 2015, countries will gather in Paris for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21). Following the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ahead of COP 21, Equilibres & Populations draws the attention of leaders to the importance of applying a gender approach in the Paris Agreement.
Contributor to the Women & Climate appeal, led by the High Council for Gender Equality and the Women's Rights Delegations of the National Assembly and the Senate, Equilibres & Populations encourages states to make political and financial commitments to gender equality.
This is one of the essential conditions for the Paris Agreement to take on a fair and universal dimension.
Next Monday will mark the start of COP 21 on climate change. For the 147 heads of state in attendance, this will be an opportunity to assess the progress made, but above all to make a strong commitment to limit global warming to 2°C. The ambitious and binding nature of the agreement, as desired by France, cannot be achieved without effectively taking into account the populations at risk. Women and girls are particularly affected by climate change in developing countries. They also have significant power to bring about change. For these two reasons, Equipop strongly encourages their inclusion as agents of change and solutions in the Paris Agreement.
As host country and in line with its "women's rights diplomacy" launched in 2012, France therefore has a major role to play in this regard.