Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, has led a powerful call for a more holistic approach to tackling the climate change crisis by actively involving the unique perspectives of women and children.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), the wife of the Vice President, emphasised the importance of including women and children in climate conversations and decision making.
She noted that women and children are not just bearers of the brunt of climate impacts but also hold insightful perspectives that can significantly contribute to shaping effective solutions.
“Today, we acknowledge the undeniable truth that women and children are not just victims of climate change but they are powerful agents of change themselves,” she noted.
“From the rural communities to urban centres, African women have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of climate related challenges. Children too have proven time and again that they are the inheritors of our planet and are rightfully concerned about the environmental legacy we leave behind.
“The time has [therefore] come to empower the voices of women and children to actively participate in climate action and decision making processes. When we amplify our voices, we enable them to contribute innovative solutions and sustainable strategies that can revolutionise our approach in tackling climate change,” she added.
AFRIWOCC on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, commenced, uniting a diverse array of participants and stakeholders including high-level government officials, policymakers, renowned experts, representatives from international organisations, civil society and grassroots community leaders to deliberate on the theme ‘Amplifying the Voices of Women and Children in Climate Action.’
It is a two day conference organised by the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), under the auspices of the Office of the Presidyent, at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra.
During the opening ceremony, highlighted existing gaps that hinder the effective role of women and children in the climate change discourse which include unequal representation of women and children in climate discussions, lack of gender disaggregated data and inadequate technology and innovation, etc. and stressed on the urgent need for these gaps to be bridged.
“By embracing gender equality and empowering our young generation, we can unlock a wellspring of untapped potential that would steer us towards greener and a more inclusive Africa,” she noted.
“Climate action must be inclusive, holistic and intersectional. Only through a comprehensive approach can we ensure that no one is left behind in our pursuit for sustainability. I call upon governments, organisations, businesses and individuals to recognise the urgency to embrace the transformative power of Gender Equality. Let sus support initiatives that amplify the voices of women and children, create platforms for their ideas to flourish and elevate their leadership roles in climate action [because] without the active participation of women and children, climate policies are bound to fall short,” she remarked.