October 2004: The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) first Global Women’s Assembly on Environment: Women as the Voice for the Environment (WAVE) convened from 11-13 October 2004, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Assembly focused on generating outputs related to the upcoming Beijing+10 review session, the five-year review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the 13th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-13). Over 150 participants from 60 countries attended the Assembly, some from remote indigenous communities and small island developing States.

Participants in the Network drafted informal recommendations on the “Women and Environment” section of the Beijing Platform of Action, which will be forwarded to the 23rd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum and CSD-13. The WAVE Assembly adopted a Manifesto, which included these recommendations. The WAVE Manifesto, and WAVE recommendations and project ideas will be forwarded to relevant intergovernmental meetings. The Assembly highlighted the crucial role of women in promoting: women’s leadership in environment; the participation of indigenous, rural and urban women in decision making; local-global linkages; environment and health linkages; capacity building and education; and peace.

IISD RS’s coverage of the Assembly.