The IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) is the world’s largest environmental decision-making forum. It brings together governments, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, Women and youth organizations, civil society, conservation experts, and others shapes the direction of global conservation policy and practice.
As the world prepares for WCC 2025, the CBD Women’s Caucus reaffirms that gender justice must be at the heart of the discussions. This is especially critical in the adoption of the new IUCN Work Programme, where ensuring the integration of women’s and girls rights and gender-responsive approaches will be key to effective and inclusive conservation.
Motion 051: Gender equality
Conservation and biodiversity policies cannot succeed without recognizing the central role of women and girls, particularly those from local communities and Indigenous Peoples. Gender justice is not only a question of fairness — it is a proven pathway to stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable conservation outcomes.
Towards the 2025 IUCN Congress, members voted in favour of Motion 051: Mainstreaming gender equality in biodiversity policies, programmes, actions and funding
This is more than a decision — it’s a commitment to ensure that the CBD Gender Plan of Action is implemented with resources, accountability, and women’s leadership at its core.
As the CBD Women’s Caucus, we are proud to stand alongside IUCN, governments and civil society to:
✅ Mainstream gender equality across biodiversity policy and finance
✅ Support women’s groups and local organisations
✅ Make Motion 051 a true success story of IUCN’s work.
Our events
The CBD Women’s Caucus will host a series of events designed to amplify women’s voices and strengthen collective action across the IUCN Union.
These sessions will:
- Share diverse perspectives and experiences from across the Union
- Highlight women’s leadership in biodiversity and conservation
- Create opportunities for advancing gender-transformative action in global conservation policy
Webinar: Gender Justice at IUCN WCC 2025
On September 17, 2025, the CBD Women’s Caucus, IUCN Human Rights and Conservation Team, and IUCN CEESP co-hosted the webinar “Gender Justice at the Heart of Conservation: The Road to IUCN WCC 2025.” The session brought together conservation professionals, women leaders, Indigenous organizations, and youth advocates to call for gender justice at the core of IUCN’s new Programme of Work (2026–2029), set for adoption at the upcoming World Conservation Congress—the world’s largest environmental decision-making forum.
Be a gender
and biodiversity
champion!
This is a global call to action for leaders & decision-makers across all sectors to commit themselves as champions for pursuing gender justice in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and supporting the full achievement of the Gender Plan of Action.