Indigenous females advocate for representation in closed-door negotiations during COP30
In the heart of the Tapajós River and the Munduruku territories, a concerning issue has arisen. Pregnant women, children, and indigenous people have been found to have mercury levels exceeding the World Health Organization's limits, a result of gold mining activities. This alarming fact has fuelled the determination of indigenous women to make their voices heard at COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Indigenous women are not just passive observers at COP30. They have mobilized to increase their presence and ensure their voices are heard in the formal spaces of the conference. Recognized as "guardians" of biodiversity, responsible for caring for family, community, and territory, these women are the first to feel the impacts of climate change. From food insecurity and economic difficulties to increased violence and increased workload, the effects are far-reaching and severe.
In response to the insufficient climate action plans by their respective countries, indigenous movements have presented their own NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions), an unofficial document with specific proposals and demands. The G9 of Indigenous Amazon coalition of organizations from the nine Amazon countries, established at COP16 on Biodiversity in 2024, is a testament to their collective efforts.
Indigenous women have also denounced the worsening violence in their lands, linked to the absence of demarcation and the expansion of exploitative enterprises. They urge for their accreditation to ensure their voice is included in decisions about their future. The United Nations recognises the crucial role of indigenous women's participation in decisions for recovery and adaptation in the face of climate extremes.
To tackle the lack of knowledge about what COPs are and how they function, especially among women, strategies have been implemented. Discussions from international tables are being brought to the territories, and vice versa, to bridge the gap and increase understanding. Workshops and preparatory meetings - the pre-COPs - have been organized to build a common agenda for COP30.
The Circle of Indigenous Peoples, the COP Village, and a training focused on women from traditional communities have been announced to strengthen the participation of traditional peoples in COP30. Indigenous women have reaffirmed their essential role in the global climate agenda, aiming to address the disproportionate effects of climate extremes on women and girls.
However, challenges remain. Indigenous women face difficulties in accessing the Blue Zone, the official space where negotiations between governments and international delegations take place. The challenge for indigenous women starts within their own communities, where there is a lack of knowledge about what COPs are and how they function.
Despite these challenges, indigenous women are not backing down. They are seeking support so their partners can accompany them to care for the children while they participate in events at COP30. The indigenous women's conference ended in early August with the Letter for Life and for Body-Territories, which demands funds for territorial management and the fight against the climate crisis with the protagonism of women.
Indigenous women are urging for their accreditation to ensure their voice is included in decisions about their future. COP30 aims to bring the largest indigenous delegation in history, with a goal of ensuring accreditation for at least a thousand indigenous people in the Blue Zone. With the support of networks like the Jesuit worldwide network and over 600 civil society organizations globally, indigenous women are hopeful that their voices will be heard and their demands will be met.
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