WAMIP delegates from Burkina Faso, France, India, Jordan, Mali, Mongolia, Niger and Turkey joined the Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women (Mera+16) in Kathmandu, Nepal from 26th to 29th May. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organised the event, working together with the “Pastoralism and Gender” group of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
The gathering aimed to strengthen networks of pastoralist women, share experiences, and develop a common vision for the future of pastoralism, sustainable rangeland management, and climate resilience. Women and girls make up half of all pastoralists. Together, they look after almost half of the world’s land, two thirds of its biodiversity hotspots and 16% of the world’s food supply. Their work is very important for the future of communities and vital for protecting biodiversity, food sovereignty, and dealing with climate change.
At the meeting, women assessed the progress made related to their recognition, rights and participation. They also learned from each other about the challenges and how they solved them during the regional presentations.
An important outcome is the Kathmandu Declaration (Mera+16), which updates and strengthens the commitments set out in the 2010 Mera Declaration. WAMIP members contributed significantly to the drafting of the Declaration, based on the international advocacy led by pastoralist women for over fifteen years. The declaration constitutes a global call to action in support of pastoralist women’s rights, climate justice, the recognition of their knowledge, and their full participation in decision-making processes.
WAMIP also participated in the creation of a global network of pastoralist women and the adoption of a common advocacy strategy designed to bring the messages of the Kathmandu Declaration to major international forums, including the upcoming global conferences on desertification, climate, and biodiversity.
Through an active role in this gathering WAMIP helped ensure that the concerns and priorities of mobile indigenous peoples and pastoralist communities were heard in discussions on public policy, land governance, and the protection of pastoralist ways of life.
