Search | SAICM Knowledge

Report

Women, Chemicals and the SDGs

by

|

December 2020

Gender Review Mapping with a Focus on Women and Chemicals: Impact of Emerging Policy Issues and the Relevance for the Sustainable Development GoalsThe aim of this report is to show the impact chemicals have on women as a vulnerable group highly exposed to hazardous chemicals and gender inequalities related to decision-making around the management of chemicals and waste. The report also means to provide concrete steps that can be taken to safeguard the health of women and empower women in

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Video

Gender equality to make mercury history

March 2021

copied to clipboard

On International Women’s Day, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury launched a video on how women are more negatively impacted by mercury and what needs to be done to better protect, support and promote gender equality. watch the videoThe Minamata Convention tackles mercury throughout its entire life cycle, fighting gender issues every step of the way. This includes supporting gender-specific trainings and helping implement National Action Plans with a gender perspective -- with special focus on the problem

Emerging Policy Issues: Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Report

Gender & SAICM Beyond 2020: How to create a gender-just healthy planet

by

MSP Institute

|

March 2019

copied to clipboard

The present publication was produced as part of the project: "Gender and Chemicals - Together for a gender-just healthy planet", conducted by the MSP Institute in 2019.There is a number of gender aspects relevant to chemicals and chemicals and waste management. However, many of them are not receiving the attention they should in order to ensure the best possible decisions in policy-making and effective implementation.The goal of this report is to increase the integration of gender in international chemicals and

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Report

Gender and Chemicals: Questions, Issues and Possible Entry Points

by

MSP Institute

|

December 2017

copied to clipboard

The present paper was produced as part of the project: "Gender and Chemicals: Issues, Stakeholders, Strategies", conducted by the MSP Institute in 2017. We reviewed relevant literature and international policy making processes, and conducted 20 expert interviews between May and October 2017.

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Factsheets and brochures

Gender mainstreaming in chemicals and waste policies

by

HEJSupport International

|

August 2020

copied to clipboard

New Fact Sheet: Gender mainstreaming in chemicals and waste policiesGender equality is a core human rights and development issue, as highlighted in several international and regional human rights instruments, including those that are part of multilateral environmental agreements. Law-binding and voluntary agreements on chemicals and waste are no exception and play an essential role in increasing the participation of women and men in the management of chemicals and waste, while contributing to gender equality.The fact sheet includes examples of texts

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Community of practice summary of discussions

Gender and sound management of chemicals and waste: Gender and the SAICM Emerging Policy Issues

August 2020

copied to clipboard

The Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have launched a Community of Practice (CoP) on Chemicals and SDGs to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to addressing Chemicals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a summary of the discussion on Gender and sound management of chemicals and waste: Gender and the SAICM Emerging Policy Issues, which took place on

Topics: Gender mainstreaming Knowledge Management

Policy document

Gender and the sound management of chemicals and waste

by

SAICM

|

September 2018

copied to clipboard

“Gender mainstreaming” is defined as a strategy for making both men and women’s concerns and experiences an integral part of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres.In practice, gender mainstreaming supports the contribution of men and women to society equally, through policies and programmes that address their specific needs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda aim to address inequalities among all population groups, especially women, children, and the impoverished. Directly addressing the links between

Emerging Policy Issues: Chemicals in products

Topics: Gender mainstreaming

Policy document

Gender and the sound management of chemicals and waste: Prepared for the SAICM intersessional process beyond 2020

by

SAICM

|

March 2018

copied to clipboard

A request was made at the first intersessional meeting for information on the relationship between women and chemical safety as it relates to emerging policy issues and issues of concern, covering in particular the period beyond 2020. The Bureau agreed at its May 2017 meeting for the secretariat to prepare a paper, for the second intersessional meeting, that reviews the broader concept of gender and the sound management of chemicals and waste, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Topics: Gender mainstreaming Knowledge Management

Manuals and toolkits

The Gender and Chemicals Road Map + Workbook

by

MSP Institute

|

December 2021

copied to clipboard

The road map lays out actions and provides guidance on how to fully integrate gender in national chemicals management. These steps are meant to give support and direction to actors engaged in national chemicals management, especially SAICM National Focal Points. The accompanying workbook helps to prioritize and plan your activities step by step. Additionally, SAICM Focal Points and other stakeholders might be at different stages of capacity development, and priority actions and objectives will differ depending on the individual national context - the workbook, therefore, allows you to develop your specific process of integrating gender.

Topics: Gender mainstreaming Policymaking

Case studies

Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues

by

IPEN ,

|

June 2022

copied to clipboard

People of all gender identities must have the same rights and opportunities to participate fully in their communities, free from the health threats posed by toxic chemicals. It is especially important to understand the factors that put women at risk from chemical health threats.

The IPEN report “Women Leaders: Addressing Chemicals and Waste Issues” highlights women’s leadership through ten organizations from around the world working to address chemical health threats. The report was developed within the framework of the United Nations Environment Program and its Global Environment Facility (GEF), under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), executed by the SAICM Secretariat. It was produced with support from the Swedish Government.

Women face greater risks from chemical exposures and experience higher rates of adverse health outcomes because of their physiology, different types of occupational exposures, and differential exposures to chemicals, including from personal care and household products. Women are also exposed to chemicals — such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, lead in paint, and chemicals in toys — that pose health threats during pregnancy and to their developing children.

These toxic exposures can lead to serious health problems that impact women’s lives and their opportunities to participate in their communities fully and equally. This is especially so for women in low-income communities who are often managing multiple pathways for toxic exposures and multiple obstacles to gender equality.

Women cannot be empowered nor gender equality achieved while exposures to hazardous chemicals put them at risk for cancer, chronic illnesses, infertility, and damage to their nervous systems.

In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Gender Equality” is one of the goals (Goal 5) and the SDGs also recognize that gender equality is a prerequisite for reaching most of the other goals. Reducing and eliminating chemical exposures will also be essential for achieving all of the 17 goals.

The stories that follow highlight women across the globe who are leading work in their communities, nations, and internationally for stronger protections from harmful chemicals. Supporting their work and the work of countless other women who are leading similar efforts will be critical for achieving the SDGs.

Topics: Gender mainstreaming