The Winners First Pakistan Gender and Climate Awards Announced in French Embassy
The Embassy of France and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), together with International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Pakistan), announced the winners of the first Pakistan Gender and Climate Awards.
Humera Iqbal, She Leads Agriculture won the first prize 3,500 EUR and Irum Fatima, Pakistani Hoslamand Khawateen Network (PHKN), won 2,500 EUR and third prize of 2,000 EUR has received by Mehreen Raza SheGuard. The award money shall be invested in the initiative or project of winners.
An event has been arranged at the residence of Ambassador to France in Pakistan H.E on International Women’s Day. Senator Sherry Rehman, Minister of Climate Change was chief guest on the occasion. “The objective of this award is to highlight women’s commitment and leadership in the fight against climate change and the need to adopt gender-responsive policy, in line with the Paris Agreement” said by the press release issued by the embassy.
Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change, in her address congratulated the winners. She also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events such as forest fires and heat waves, and the melting of glaciers in the North of Pakistan and role of women. She expressed her appreciation to the government of France in supporting Pakistan to deal with climate change. She said the women are more close to nature and they have more impact of nature to them.
Climate Change risk have higher impact on women, Sherry Rehman.
Mr. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France in Pakistan, while addressing the ceremony said “this award provides a platform for organizations and individuals in Pakistan to showcase their efforts in promoting gender equality and climate action and to inspire others to join the movement. This award echoes Pakistan’s leadership in international climate change negotiations after the floods of 2022, particularly during the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.”
The applications for the Gender and Climate Award in Pakistan have been screened by a jury comprising of representatives from the Embassy of France in Pakistan, the AFD in Pakistan, IUCN Pakistan, as well as representatives from the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCC) and the UNDP. The jury has selected the best initiatives that promote gender equality and climate action in Pakistan, said PR issued by the embassy.
On the occasion, Humera Iqbal, She Leads Agriculture said that Pakistan and other countries have facing multiple issues including climate change, drought, water crises and low production. As Pakistan is a agricultural country that why, our organization is trying to train and develop the women to meet the challenges related to climate change.
“We women thought carefully about our own values and set ourselves challenges to lead by examples. We are better able to defend our role in taking genuine action to protect the next generation because of the threat that climate change poses to the entire world. We are stronger together”.
Irum Fatima, Pakistani Hoslamand Khawateen Network (PHKN) runner up said that “We believe in empowering women to play a key role in promoting environmental sustainability, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”
While, Mehreen Raza working to safeguard women said that She is doing her best for the hygiene of Pakistani women. She said her project is all about earth and women’s health. “she is breaking the taboos related to menstruation and rising awareness” Maheen said.
