{"id":45485,"date":"2021-06-24T16:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T16:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev6.blazedream.in\/ICSF\/yemaya\/rio20-analysis"},"modified":"2021-08-28T02:12:36","modified_gmt":"2021-08-28T02:12:36","slug":"rio20-analysis","status":"publish","type":"yemaya","link":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/yemaya\/rio20-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"RIO+20 \/ Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rio+20\/ ANALYSIS<\/p>\n
Is this the future we want?<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite calls for accountability and action by women’s groups, the Rio+20 Conference fell far short of expectations<\/p>\n By Vivienne Solis Rivera<\/strong> (vsolis@coopesolidar.org<\/a>) of CoopeSoliDar R.L (www.coopesolidar.org<\/a>) and a Member of ICSF<\/p>\n This year, the Rio+20 conference, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, saw heads of State and representatives of civil society meet to discuss the critical issue of sustainable development. Twenty years ago, the historic Rio Conference of 1992 had led to policy outcomes that shaped the work of governments and civil society for the next two decades. These included the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, Agenda21 and the Rio Declaration. The Rio Conference gave an impetus to implementation of Principle 10 (of the Rio Declaration)related to public participation, access to information and justice; agreements related to the issues of equity and equality between men and women; and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Perhaps most importantly, it showcased the will expressed by the developed world to finance and support proposals to achieve, globally, the goal of sustainable development.<\/p>\n At this year’s Rio+20 conference two broad discussion themes were put forward: the \u0091green economy’, particularly in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development. Women from all over the world actively participated in preparing for the conference, seeking clear recognition of their potential to help achieve the goal of sustainable development. Noting that women’s rights lie at the heart of this goal, a statement by women of the Latin American and the Caribbean region declared:<\/p>\n \u0093The world must recognize that we women are a group with diverse opinions and cultures, representing 50 per cent of humanity, but we coincide in our quest for equity, equality, social and environmental justice as these are fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development. We share the concern of other major groups on the use of the \u0091green economy’ concept. We are clear that a vision oriented towards sustainable development cannot only focus on an economic agenda, but must necessarily deepen agendas addressing the social, cultural, environmental and political agendas that have not been implemented since our last meeting in Rio. We want to take a clear stand against the \u0091dollarization’ of life; we wish to take up the challenge of making real changes that go beyond \u0091greening’ and the use of other makeup colours, and to get to grips with the real issues that will change the development paradigm of our planet. The agenda must incorporate what has been agreed and said in so many global, sectoral and women’s forums, including Rio, Barbados, Cairo, Beijing, Monterrey and Manaus. We want the issues of women’s health and nutrition, and the role that culture plays in a full life, to be analyzed; and the rights, roles, needs and vulnerabilities of women from indigenous communities and women of Afro-descent to be addressed in a holistic and concrete manner. (Adapted from the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Statement on Rio+20, PrepCom, Chile, 2011.)<\/p>\n The statement was clear. Women’s human rights are rarely recognized and respected. These include women’s sexual and reproductive rights, their right to live a life free from violence and femicide, and their right to sustainable development. <\/p>\n From a women’s perspective, sustainable development is a holistic concept that values, equally, the social, economic and environmental aspects of life, as well as equity and equality of opportunities, and access to justice, information and public participation. Sustainable development is central to the idea of human well-being, and, therefore, to achieve it, a fundamental precondition is the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
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\nHowever, for many, the Rio+20 was a disappointment. Despite efforts made by women to call for accountability, action, financial commitments, and the recognition of a binding framework of human rights incorporating social, environmental and economic development, the conference outcomes fell short of expectations.<\/p>\n