PANAJI: At the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in Goa, there must be issues related to women on the agenda and also an assurance of prior consultation with women as a prominent stakeholder before any agreements, which will impact women across BRICS countries,is signed. This was stated in a resolution passed here on Wednesday at a consultation organised by People’s Forum on BRICS.
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Bailancho Saad, Goa’s leading women’s collective, speakers at a discussion on ‘Drawing up Women’s Agenda for BRICS’ voiced concerns over food security, land, climate change, energy, environment, trade, labour rights, and other gender justice issues that need to figure in the agenda of the Govermental BRICS summit.
Speaking on “Building Eco-feminist analysis on climate and energy justice -- Women in Africa,” Ms. Dorothy-Grace M. Guerrero, who works in Africa and China on climate, development and general democratisation of civil society space, lamented that though women happen to be the biggest segment which is very adversely affected by climate change and energy issues, very little data was available on the impact of climate change on women and children worldwide.
Addressing the participants on “Women's movement participation in the struggles vs Corporate Impunity”, Ms. Brid Brennan from Economic Justice Programme, Transnational Institute (TNI) Africa attacked the agenda of capitalist transformation of women where corporates stereotype women and remarked that when it comes to development agenda and women’s participation, countries in BRICS, unfortunately, do not seem to be blazing any different path as these policies only lead to increasing poverty for vast majority and increase the divide between poor and the rich through, what she called, “ model of destructive development.”
She wanted women to be part of the voice at BRICS.
Ms. Maran S. K. from Stop Wall Outreach, who has been campaigning against war, illegal occupation through Palestine Solidarity Campaign lamented that in any war or struggle against oppression worldwide it is the women who suffer the most.
She blamed almost all BRICS countries for indirectly contributing to Israeli coffers by purchasing their arms and ammunitions and gave a call to BRICS countries to stand together for a safer and more just world.
Addressing the issue of “Women’s Leadership in Food Sovereignty”, Ms. Radha Gopalan from Food Sovereignty Alliance expressed grave concern that farmers’ rights are not being protected over traditional knowledge, seeds.
“We are not protecting farmers’ rights, alienating women from traditional knowledge on which the traditional food system has been built,” said Ms. Gopalan.
She warned that unless small farmers and their women are supported to maintain diversity of their seed, “we will not be able to adapt to the agriculture under the climate change.”
“We need to move away from gendering of processes and put into place systems through legislative processes to have sovereign rights over seeds and consequent right on food systems,” said Ms. Gopalan.
Advocate Norma Alvares, lawyer from Goa Foundation who works on protecting environment by challenging violation of environment protection laws, lauded women in Goa for always being in the forefront to partner implementation of environment laws and struggles in Goa.
Issues like struggles of domestic workers to get recognition as “workers”, issues like free trade agreements signed without having any consultative processes with women also were deliberated at the workshop.
