Natural Justice, in collaboration with other alliances, is currently in Nairobi, Kenya, attending the twenty-fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-25). SBSTTA operates within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and plays a vital role in providing scientific and technical advice to the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the CBD.
Last year, in Kunming, Montreal, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted. The GBF is a transformative multilateral agreement aimed at supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and building on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plans. It sets forth an ambitious pathway towards realizing the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Notably, the Framework includes four goals for 2050 and twenty-three targets for 2030. Among these targets, Natural Justice places special emphasis on targets 3, 21, and 22, as they represent a significant milestone by affirming the rights of indigenous and local communities, women, youth, individuals with disabilities, and human rights defenders.
At the SBSTTA-25 meeting, member parties and stakeholders have gathered to deliberate on various scientific, technical, and technological matters related to biodiversity and formulate recommendations for action to be presented at the CBD’s Conference of the Parties (COP 16). This meeting serves as a platform where Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can influence the text and language of decisions by proposing initiatives during plenary sessions and urging countries to adopt these proposals.
In collaboration with our alliances, Natural Justice is closely monitoring a reporting framework to ensure the implementation of the targets set by the GBF by countries that are parties to the CBD.
Tonight(17.10.2023), Jacqueline Rukanda Programme Manager, Affirming Rights, Southern Africa hub will participate in a side event organised by the CBD Alliance, where she will address the urgency and necessity of establishing effective indicators for monitoring the progress and achievement of the human rights components of the framework. Additionally, she will present a statement outlining the alliance’s demands in the work conducted during SBSTTA-25.
