The environmental challenges faced today demand a holistic approach to solutions that consider the interconnectedness of social, economic, and ecological systems. This requires a shift away from the exploitation of nature and women and towards an understanding of the interdependence and interrelatedness of all living beings.

Environmental degradation and gender violence are closely related because they are both products of a patriarchal worldview that privileges power and domination. Both are forms of exploitation and oppression that result from the same underlying attitudes and beliefs that justify the domination of one group by another. Gender justice and environmental healing require analyses of the intersections of gender, race, class, and environment, and how gender injustice perpetuates environmental degradation and vice versa. Furthermore, patriarchal systems often exclude women from decision-making processes that affect the environment, such as land ownership and resource management, leading to unsustainable and exploitative practices.

To restore balance in the environment, gender justice must be an integral part of environmental policy and action. This includes the empowerment of women in manifold ways, especially in access to resources and decision-making processes. It also means promoting gender-sensitive approaches to environmental protection and restoration that recognise the unique perspectives and experiences of women.

The Churcha session on ‘Restoring Balance for Gender Justice and Environmental Healing’ will discuss how environmental degradation and gender violence are not isolated problems but rather symptoms of a larger system of exploitation, and how addressing these issues together will help realise a more just and sustainable world for all.