WASHINGTON DC | September 15, 2022 – On the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and the Rockefeller Foundation released key recommendations from political, non-profit and business leaders to advance gender equality.
Women leaders, including current and former heads of state, warn that “the rights of women and girls around the world are under threat; This moment of crisis demands that we both hold the line and continue to advance gender equality with cohesion and determination.”
In a call for urgent action for gender equality, they state that “women’s progress is not a zero-sum game. It is a fundamental precursor to economic productivity, peace and prosperity.”
Women leaders offer guidance for accelerated progress based on a 2022 Global Summit of Women Leaders at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy – documented in briefing papers. The 2022 Global Women Leaders Summit was chaired by Secretary Hillary Clinton and hosted by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Key recommendations to support women’s leadership amid the democratic push and the need for comprehensive action on the climate and development agenda include:
- Fostering the conditions for women political leaders to succeed, including the creation of support networks for women political leaders and heads of state to equip them with strategies to steer the push. Women leaders should use their platforms to lift up the successes of other women leaders and call out attacks.
- Catalyzing private sector action for inclusive climate finance. Governments, businesses, foundations and civil society should establish a climate finance regime that increases access to capital for women’s organizations working on climate adaptation and sustainability (including sustainable models in energy agriculture, solar fields, clean stoves and mini-grids). Corporate carbon offsets can go to women-led organizations and local climate leaders and support developing countries in their clean energy transitions.
- Promoting women’s leadership at all levels of climate action. Governments should ensure gender equality at all levels of climate change decision-making, including COP delegations and high-level negotiations. Policymakers should engage women in the design, delivery and evaluation of comprehensive climate interventions, particularly in renewable energy, land tenure and ownership, and sustainable natural resource management. This includes partnering with local women-led initiatives to identify needs and provide access to technology, training and support networks.
- Systematization of gender responses to conflicts and crises. Governments and international organizations should focus on women in the design and implementation of humanitarian aid and recovery efforts. Women are essential to effective aid delivery and must be leaders and beneficiaries of the crisis response.
“We are fortunate to have the participation and insights from young women who have spent decades advancing progress for women and girls,” said Ambassador Melanne Verveer, executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. “At this critical time, we look forward to partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to bring some of these ideas to life in subsequent programs.”
This work is supported as part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Connected Leaders Platform (CLP) which supports new solutions and collective action. CLP attracts leaders, facilitates connections and supports the integration of network resources, skills and perspectives to drive big change.
“The Rockefeller Foundation has a proud history of connecting amazing leaders and helping them change the world. With its bold aim to end gender injustice once and for all, the Global Summit of Women Leaders will be remembered as a meeting where the first leaders achieved a turning point in building a more equal future, said Zia Khan, Senior Vice President of Innovation at the Rockefeller Foundation.
About the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security seeks to promote a more sustainable, peaceful and just world by focusing on the important role women play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, growing economies and addressing global threats such as climate change and violent extremism. We engage in rigorous research, host global gatherings, advance strategic partnerships and nurture the next generation of leaders. Housed within Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, the Institute is led by former US Ambassador for Global Women’s Affairs Melanne Verveer. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at giwps.georgetown.edu and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @giwps and Instagram @georgetown_wps.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology and innovation that enable individuals, families and communities to thrive. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.
Media contact
Wyatt Goodwin
+1 212 852 0000
[email protected]
Sarah Rutherford
+1 (412) 965 9275
[email protected]
