Itanagar, Jun 9: Over 120 women leaders attended the Asia Women and Rivers Congress 2024 at Chiang Rai, Thailand from June 4-6 last.
The Congress was attended by Arunachal Pradesh team comprising of Bhanu Tatak of Siang Indigenous Farmer’s Forum (SIFF), anti dam forum in Siang and steering committee member of Asia Indigenous People’s Network on Extractive Energy (AIPNEE) who was awarded the Bhagirath Prayas Samman 2023, annual Award by India Rivers Forum for exception work in River Conservation, last year. Bhanu was accompanied by Karry Padu, an independent Filmmaker known for films I am Property (2020), The Vivid Project (2018) and Canada Di Flight (2016). Ajoh Mihu, an independent Researcher and member of Dibang Resistance also attended the Congress. Bhanu raised concern and stories of the Anti dam movement spanning over 15 years in Siang and Dibang district of Aruanchal Pradesh.
The Asia Women and Rivers Congress brought together women leaders from riverine and indigenous communities, civil society, academia, and policymakers to discuss water, energy, and climate change challenges that are faced in transboundary river basins that flow across South and Southeast Asia. The participants shared their experiences and knowledge, and plan collaborative strategies for women’s-led river protection campaigns and responses to the challenges they face.
Water conflict in Asia has largely been between river developers and local communities adversely impacted by development projects. This is increased by the challenges of climate change. In spite of clear linkages between gender, water, energy, and climate change, women’s roles and leadership have not been a significant part of the discourse in #TransboundaryWater management. Women in Asia manage and disproportionately bear the negative impacts of water and energy provisioning fundamental to household and community sustenance needs. Although women have experience, ideas, and knowledge of how to manage these resources, their views are rarely sought at decision-making levels. 
Understanding the ways in which gender shapes policy over the sustainable management of our natural resources when faced with climate change and the differing needs and positions of women and men, is crucial to addressing poverty and ensuring sustainability.
The Congress aims to facilitate transboundary cooperation across Asia for the women leaders in riverine communities, co-creating a vision for the future and building a network. 
World Environment Day was also observed in the Congress with great zeal.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List