Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is home to approximately 335 million women and girls (CELADE-ECLAC, 2022); of which at least 63 million live in rural areas, maintaining a direct and constant interaction with the natural environment.
However, despite these significant numbers, widespread gaps persist across the region in women's ability to achieve the full spectrum of their rights, including access to and control over natural resources, coupled with the burden of unpaid domestic and care work, the health impacts of pollution, insecurity, gender-based violence and limited political voice, all of which are interconnected issues.
On the other hand, women are often at the forefront of environmental and territorial defence movements in the region. However, several Latin American and Caribbean countries rank high globally regarding the threat and murder of leaders dedicated to protecting nature, which also includes women environmental defenders. In 2021, 200 land and environmental defenders were killed. Of these, 78% occurred in Latin America. Of the total number of victims worldwide, 20 were women, 16 of whom lived in the region (Global Witness, 2022).
In this unequal setting, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers that overcoming gender gaps is fundamental for sustainable development and, therefore, implements initiatives focused on making this problem visible and showing the predominant role of women in the sustainable management of natural resources in Latin America and the Caribbean.
