On November 5, Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director, spoke to Parliament Ministers from around the world and other global leaders at the GLOBE COP26 Legislators Summit held at the

On November 5, Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director, spoke to Parliament Ministers from around the world and other global leaders at the GLOBE COP26 Legislators Summit held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In her speech, Osprey called for no more false solutions, and advocated for climate justice, community-led solutions, Indigenous rights, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and further inclusion of frontline leadership and women in decision making processes.

Right now, current country commitments bring global warming far past the 1.5 degree target laid out in the Paris Climate Agreement. Osprey called for an end to false solutions and presented our Call to Action that was recently delivered to governments during the UNGA by Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice. It is a call to action from women and feminist around the world representing millions of people outlining in explicit detail what can be done to meet the 1.5 degree target with already existing climate justice frameworks.

Read the Call to Action Statement here: https://www.wecaninternational.org/womens-assembly-cta

Read the Framework Recommendations here: https://www.wecaninternational.org/womens-assembly-recommendations

Women Leading Efforts to Uphold Indigenous Rights, Sovereignty, and Due Diligence with Financial Institutions and Corporations

From the frontlines of extractive projects, the

Women Leading Efforts to Uphold Indigenous Rights, Sovereignty, and Due Diligence with Financial Institutions and Corporations

From the frontlines of extractive projects, the boardrooms of financial institutions, to the halls of governments, Indigenous women are leading efforts to uphold Indigenous rights and sovereignty, including the right of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

During the event, Indigenous women leaders and global advocates discussed how financial institutions and corporations perpetuate human and Indigenous rights violations in relation to extractive and other industries and the necessary steps these institutions must take to stop these egregious activities— and instead, implement FPIC, Indigenous rights and due diligence, while also investing in solutions within a climate justice framework centering Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Additionally, given the severity of the climate crisis and existential threat to all of humanity, it is important to highlight that 80% of biodiversity remaining on Earth is in Indigenous lands and territories. Respecting Indigenous knowledge, ways of life, and FPIC, and the right to say “no” to continued extraction, is thus paramount to the discussion.

This was a formal side-event of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2022.

Speakers included:
-- Michelle Cook (Dine’/Navajo), Human rights lawyer and founder of Divest Invest Protect and Indigenous Human Rights Defenders and Corporate Accountability Program

-- Summer Blaze Aubrey (Citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a Descendant of the Blackfeet Nation), Law Fellow, Indigenous Human Rights Defenders & Corporate Accountability Program and Staff Attorney for the International Indian Treaty Council

-- Leila Salazar-Lopez, Executive Director of Amazon Watch

-- Sônia Guajajara (Guajajara), Executive Coordinator for Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (APIB)

-- Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member

-- Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

-- Special Guest: Maria Violet Medina Quiscue (Nasa), Autoridades Indigenas en Bakata, Colombia with Xiomara Chingate

June 2022

Osprey Orielle Lake Presentation for Scenarios Forum Session 93, "Addressing the gender dimension in socioeconomic scenarios: policy and
climate change impacts on gender

June 2022

Osprey Orielle Lake Presentation for Scenarios Forum Session 93, "Addressing the gender dimension in socioeconomic scenarios: policy and
climate change impacts on gender equality and gender equality as a driver of change", June 2022.

Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action - COP27 Press Conference

Indigenous organizations and communities, led by women, are mobilizing locally and globally to

Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action - COP27 Press Conference

Indigenous organizations and communities, led by women, are mobilizing locally and globally to protect and defend their communities and territories from governments and corporations that continue to violate Indigenous and human rights, and push forward extractive projects that harm local ecosystems and put communities at risk.

During this press conference, Indigenous women from the Amazon Basin and Brazil brought forth calls to action for Indigenous rights and protection of forests, water, communities, and the global climate.

Speakers included:
--- Sônia Bone Guajajara (Guajajara), Indigenous Leader from Brazil, Federal Deputy of the National Congress of Brazil, Brazil
--- Patricia Gualinga (Kichwa), Spokeswoman for Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva (Amazon Women in Defense of the Jungle), Sarayaku, Ecuador
--- Helena Gualinga (Kichwa), Indigenous Youth Climate Leader, Sarayaku, Ecuador
--- Taily Terena (Terena), Indigenous Rights Activist, WECAN Coordinator in Brazil, Brazil

Accelerating a Feminist Green New Deal - COP27 Press Conference

To truly address the root causes, as well as the scope and scale of the climate crisis, the Green New Deal must be

Accelerating a Feminist Green New Deal - COP27 Press Conference

To truly address the root causes, as well as the scope and scale of the climate crisis, the Green New Deal must be cross-cutting in its approach, steadfast in feminist principles, and strive to combat historical oppressions.

During this press conference, speakers discussed the principles of the Feminist Green New Deal and feminist policies and frameworks that are necessary for advancing just climate policies. This press conference was organized by the Feminist Green New Deal Coalition, of which WECAN is a founding member.

Speakers included:
--- Jacqui Patterson, Founder and Executive Director, The Chisholm Legacy Project
--- Margaret Kwateng, National Green New Deal Organizer, Global Grassroots Justice Alliance (GGJA)
--- Dr. Frances Roberts-Gregory, Program Director, Initiative for Energy Justice
--- Katherine Quaid (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla), Communications Coordinator, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)
--- Mara Dolan, Program Manager, Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)

Global Voices and Women-Led Calls to Action in Response to COP27

Around the world, peoples’ movements are responding to the escalating climate crisis and rising to address the

Global Voices and Women-Led Calls to Action in Response to COP27

Around the world, peoples’ movements are responding to the escalating climate crisis and rising to address the urgency and needs of people and the planet. During this event, we heard from women and gender-diverse leaders on the ground at #COP27 to report out on negotiations, share highlights, report releases, calls to action, demands from women globally, struggles, and solutions.

Speakers included:
- Noelene Nabulivou | Co-founder/Director, DIVA for Equality, Fiji;
- Carmen Capriles, Founder of Reacción Climática, WECAN Coordinator for Latin America
- Patricia Gualinga (Kichwa), Indigenous Leader from Sarayaku, and Spokeswoman, Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva;
- Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor and International Spokesperson for Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP);
- Jacqui Patterson, Founder and Executive Director, The Chisholm Legacy Project;
- Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director, Amazon Watch;
- Geraldine Patrick Encina, Indigenous Relations Advisor, One Earth Member of Grand Council of the Eagle and the Condor, and member of Earth Timekeepers;
- Adriana Calderón, Youth Climate Activist, USA & Mexico; Advocate with Fridays For Future, Fridays For Future MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) and Fridays For Future in Mexico (Viernes Por El Futuro Mexico);
- Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

INTERNET LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Global Women are Leading for Water Protection! During this event "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water," we heard from grassroots women

INTERNET LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Global Women are Leading for Water Protection! During this event "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water," we heard from grassroots women leaders, water protectors, and international policy experts, who addressed the impacts of climate change and destructive projects on global water, and shared ongoing solutions and strategies for the protection of oceans, freshwater, rivers, and aquatic ecosystems based in a climate justice framework.

This is a formal side event of the UN Water Conference happening right now in New York City. In addition to the event, WECAN is submitting a commitment and releasing a Call to Action urging governments to increase and improve their ambition to protect global water sources by enacting a rights-based approach and ensuring women’s leadership in decision- making spaces. Read and share the call to action here: https://bit.ly/3LJNZgE

Speakers include:
Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons | Band of Ojibwe, Ojibwe Elder, Women of Wellbriety, International, United Nations Observer on Women/Indigenous Issues, Turtle Island/USA
Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner | Poet, Director for Marshallese youth nonprofit Jo-Jikum, and Climate Envoy, Marshall Islands
c (Cofán) | Indigenous rights & Land Defender, Goldman Prize Winner, Ecuador
Maude Barlow | Founding Member of the Council of Canadians, Co-Founder, the Blue Planet Project, Canada
Aurora Conley | Bad River Ojibwe, Anishinaabe Environmental Protection Alliance, Turtle Island/USA
Vasser Seydel | President at The Oxygen Project, USA
Moderation and Comments by Osprey Orielle Lake | Executive Director, Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

Links and resources from the event are available here: https://bit.ly/3JFnTZJ

On Earth Day 2023 we are releasing a new WECAN video that highlights the advocacy of global women leaders fighting to stop extraction and deforestation while advocating for Indigenous and human

On Earth Day 2023 we are releasing a new WECAN video that highlights the advocacy of global women leaders fighting to stop extraction and deforestation while advocating for Indigenous and human rights and the advancement of critical community-led climate solutions.

LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Uplifting Women Human Rights Defenders and Advancing the Escazu Agreement

During this virtual event, women environmental and human rights defenders,

LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Uplifting Women Human Rights Defenders and Advancing the Escazu Agreement

During this virtual event, women environmental and human rights defenders, policy makers, and feminist advocates highlighted the challenges women in all of their diversity face in securing human and Indigenous rights, gaining access to information, public participation, access to justice and protecting land, territories and communities in the context of implications and opportunities women have as part of the Escazú Agreement. This was a formal side event of the Escazu COP2 in 2023.