By Daphne Esquivel-Sada, Fatou Ndiaye and Cicilia Gihtaiga
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus
From February 23 to March 6 2026, Daphne Esquivel-Sada, Fatou Ndiaye and Cicilia Gihtaiga represented the CBD Women’s Caucus at the at the «CBD online Forum on Synthetic biology impacts«, held online.
The Forum aimed to identify the current and potential benefits, as well as the risks and negative impacts, of synthetic biology in relation to the three objectives of the Convention and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It also explored whether recent technological developments in the field present any specific or emerging considerations.
About the event
The governance of synthetic biology continues to evolve as a critical and often contested item within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In line with decision 16/21, the Conference of the Parties mandated the organization of the sixth Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on synthetic biology. This process is particularly significant, as it brings together diverse perspectives from governments, industry, and civil society on the implications of rapidly advancing biotechnologies for the three objectives of the Convention and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. For the Women’s Caucus, this represents a key opportunity to advocate for the integration of gender perspectives into the analysis of synthetic biology developments, alongside other critical dimensions.
As part of this process, an open-ended Online Forum on Synthetic Biology was held from 23 February to 6 March 2026. The Forum was open to CBD Parties, civil society organizations, individuals, and other stakeholders with an interest in synthetic biology, bringing together a total of 303 participants. Moderated by Martin Batič (Slovenia), a former member of the AHTEG on synthetic biology, the Forum aimed to inform the discussions of the upcoming AHTEG meeting scheduled for May 2026. Participants were invited to identify the current and potential benefits, as well as the risks and negative impacts, of synthetic biology in relation to the Convention’s objectives and the Global Biodiversity Framework, while also considering the implications of recent technological developments in the field.
The gender perspective
Representatives of the Women’s Caucus actively contributed to the Forum. Their inputs were shared both individually and collectively, bringing forward perspectives aligned with the Caucus’ priorities. However, discussions on gender remained limited. Contributions were expected to be grounded in existing literature, and there is still a notable gap in research addressing the intersections between synthetic biology and gender. This highlights a broader structural challenge in ensuring that gender-responsive perspectives are systematically integrated into emerging scientific and policy debates.
Outcomes and nexts steps
The content of the Forum will be summarized by the CBD Secretariat and shared as part of the preparations for the upcoming AHTEG on synthetic biology.
In parallel, the Women’s Caucus has established a dedicated subgroup to further analyze this topic, with the aim of leveraging the Caucus’ expertise and strengthening its contributions to the process. The subgroup will support preparations for the in-person AHTEG meetings scheduled for May 2026.