During an event on Women, Climate Change and
Conservation held on 19 September 2011 at the Scandinavia House in New York, Thilmeeza Hussain, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Maldives Mission to the UN, presented the Maldives’ perspective on these issues.
Ms. Thilmeeza Hussain spoke about the risks that Climate Change poses to the Maldives and about the situation of women in the country. She emphasized both domestic and international initiatives taken by the Maldivian government as well as challenges to gender equality that still remain. She also commented on grassroots networks and women’s rights organizations in the Maldives. Since President Mohamed Nasheed has taken office, the Maldives have become a strong advocate for gender equality, both in the region and internationally.
The event was designed to connect climate and environmental related issues with those of women’s realities in the global South and focused on both impacts of Climate Change on women as well as on strategies of how women can become powerful agents of change. It also highlighted the powerful personal narratives of leading Global South grassroots activists.
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice addressed the urge to bring forward these pressing issues and to identify and support women as agents of change.
The event was organized by the Center for Environment & Population, Climate Wise Women, The Izaak Walton League and the Sierra Club and hosted by the Scandinavia House.
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