UNESCO launched a book, titled "Women's Knowledge: Traditional Medicine and Nature - The Islands of Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues," at the International Workshop on Bioprocessing, Policy and Practice: Conservation and use of Medicinal plants of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar.
11 May 2011: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a book, titled “Women’s Knowledge: Traditional Medicine and Nature – The Islands of Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues,” at the International Workshop on Bioprocessing, Policy and Practice: Conservation and Use of Medicinal Plants of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar, which took place from 20-22 April 2011, in Ebène, Mauritius.
The book constitutes the first volume of the UNESCO series “Local and Indigenous Knowledge.” It brings attention to the knowledge of medicinal plants and medical practices of the women from the Islands of Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues, with a special focus on childbirth. It also considers the place of medicinal knowledge within these evolving societies, which are confronting threats and opportunities that globalization poses to local identities.
The workshop brought together approximately 50 participants, including scientists, policy makers, representatives of NGOs, and traditional healers from over 15 countries. Participants exchanged information, established working links to existing networks in natural products, medicinal plant and related databases, and created a network within the sub-region for exchange and development in relevant fields.
The workshop concluded with the adoption of a set of recommendations on policy, science and practitioners. [UNESCO Press Release] [Workshop Recommendations] [Book Webpage (available in French)]