Under the auspices of H.E. Maša Kociper, State Secretary in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Nataša Bratina, Acting General Manager in the Directorate of Spatial Planning and Construction, Ministry of Nature Resources and Spatial Planning (Slovenia), hosted a gathering of women heads of delegations and representatives of international organizations that took place on 7 December 2023 on the evening of the Ministerial Session of COP23 of the Barcelona Convention (Portoroz, Slovenia, 5-8 December 2023).
Speaking on behalf of H.E. Maša Kociper, Ms. Bratina said: “if our common sea policies are to be sustainable, they must be just and gender-sensitive. It is vital to improve women's representation also in the maritime sectors and make sure that our goodwill actions do not create further inequalities around the globe.”
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, UNEP Deputy Executive Director, also spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of achieving women’s full, equal and meaningful participation as an enabler of the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation and further promote gender equality to deliver the objectives of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols: a healthy Mediterranean Sea and coast that underpin sustainable development.
“The meaningful engagement of women, girls and women’s groups for the effective implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols can leverage the required transformation in the Mediterranean region. This seminal notion underpins the effective delivery of the UNEP/MAP mandate in the Mediterranean region,” said Tatjana Hema, the UNEP/MAP Coordinator.
In line with the UNEP Policy and Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, gender equality is recognized as a driver of sustainable development for populations around the Mediterranean and as a key element of the required transition to sustainability and resilience in the region.
UNEP/MAP supports the implementation of the SDGs in Mediterranean countries in many forms, including through the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) devised by the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD) and adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention.
The gathering of Women Leaders that took place in Portoroz is the second of its kind. In 2021, a similar encounter took place under the auspices of the First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye. UNEP/MAP is working on turning these encounters into a Flagship Initiative of the next iteration of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development under the Barcelona Convention.
Learn more:
- COP23 outcomes (press release)
- Women's leadership in environmental protection and sustainability (video):
COP 23 | Women's leadership in environmental protection and sustainability from Earth Negotiations Bulletin on Vimeo.
