25 September
Inspiring coastal communities to take action for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean
#MedCoastDay #Act4Med #BarcelonaConvention
Join us in celebrating
Mediterranean Coast Day!
This annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about vital environmental issues affecting the region and emphasises the importance of safeguarding our coastlines for the benefit of future generations.
Since 2007, this initiative has evolved to encompass a broader range of themes, with a focus on the well-being of coastal and marine ecosystems and advocating for sustainable development.
2024 Action theme
Mediterranean Coast Day 2024 will spotlight the pivotal role of women in sustainable coastal management. By showcasing the achievements and insights of extraordinary women across the Mediterranean, we aim to inspire new perspectives, foster collaborative efforts, and strengthen our commitment to securing a greener future.
The main celebration in Annaba, jointly organised by PAP/RAC and the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy of Algeria, will feature panel discussions on re-evaluating our approach to sustainable coastal management from a women’s perspective. We will also showcase local stories and community-engaging strategies that drive positive change.
Why we chose to dedicate this year’s edition to women
By Daria Povh-Škugor (PAP/RAC Director) and Marko Prem (PAP/RAC Deputy Director)
We are delighted and proud to dedicate the 2024 edition of Mediterranean Coast Day to celebrating the vital roles women play in achieving coastal sustainability.
Our planet is facing a triple crisis: of climate, of nature, and of pollution. Here in the Mediterranean, the impacts of this global crisis are magnified, with our region warming 20% faster than the global average.
Women are at the forefront of this triple planetary crisis. They are so often the pillar supporting their families – ensuring access to food, water, education and more. As a result, they are disproportionately impacted by climate change, particularly in rural areas. UN Women report that rural women work harder and walk farther during times of drought and erratic rainfall to provide for their households. This heightened burden also increases their vulnerability to gender-based violence, which is exacerbated by climate-induced conflicts and inequalities.
Photographer: Robert Matić
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Women play a central role in societies and economies, where they often show a special ability to manage the multidimensional approaches required in our increasingly complex world. However, a recent UNEP report on coastal and marine management, policy and research highlights that “the contributions of women have historically been underestimated” and even “routinely ignored”.
At PAP/RAC we have been working towards the sustainable management and development of the Mediterranean coast since 1977, and we have collaborated with many amazing women along the way. We recognize that gender inequality remains an issue in our society, but our focus is on solutions and actions. With this in mind, this year’s Mediterranean Coast Day – dedicated to women – is a unique opportunity for women to share their stories and connect, inspiring others to take action.
Plan Bleu’s 2020 report on the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean found that “the gender gap to be closed in Mediterranean countries ranges from 20 to 43%, compared to 31% at the global level.”
Understanding gender dynamics is crucial when it comes to improving natural resource management on the Mediterranean coast. A recent study on Gender analysis for better coastal management highlights that a lack of knowledge about this large portion of resource users, their unequal representation in decision-making processes and managerial positions, and a general tendency to simplify gender-environment relationships can lead to ineffective or counterproductive management strategies. To close the gender gap on our coast, we recommend the following actions:
- Promote gender balance in coastal management decision-making bodies.
- Implement policies that promote gender parity in coastal management authorities and committees.
- Introduce leadership programmes in schools and community centres focused on sustainable coastal management, and ensure they are accessible to girls and young women.
- Facilitate the creation and growth of networks and associations for women in coastal management.
- Establish indicators to monitor the progress of gender inclusion in coastal management.
Men and women use the coastal and marine spaces differently, and their actions can have different environmental impacts. However, their contributions are complementary, and collaboration is essential.
While this year’s focus is on women’s roles, gender equity can only be achieved if men and women work together. Mediterranean Coast Day is for everyone, and our combined efforts are essential to ensure a sustainable future for the unique coastline we share.
Notes
Share your success and inspire other women to make a difference in their coastal communities.
Submit your story by 8th September 2024!
PAP RAC would like to give a special thanks to the GEF MedProgramme which is supporting this year’s event. Through its Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, GEF Med-Programme aims to promote sound environmental management that benefits women and men equally.
To uncover more insights, dive in here:
- The Mediterranean Sea Programme: Enhancing Environmental Security (2019–2024): Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, UN Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan, 2018
- Gender Mainstreaming in Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management: Principles, Case Studies and Lessons Learned. UN Environment Programme, 2022
- 2021 Regional Progress Report on Gender Equality: UfM Regional Dialogue on Women Empowerment in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Union for the Mediterranean, 2022.
- We the Women – Global Survey Results. UN Office for Partnerships, 2024.
Welcome from TATJANA HEMA, UNEP MAP COORDINATOR
At UNEP MAP, we believe that women have a key role to play in solving the pressing environmental issues facing the region.
In the Mediterranean and beyond, this year’s Coast Day is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and celebrate the extraordinary women who are achieving great results for our coasts – but also to underline the importance of bridging the current gender gap, so women everywhere can maximise their contribution to the creation of sustainable solutions and innovations for a greener future.
In 2021 in Turkey we launched an exciting initiative under the framework of the Barcelona Convention COPs, organising the first ever gathering of Women Environmental Leaders. We repeated the event at the COP in Portorož, Slovenia, last December. Now we would like to see this initiative to be officially classed among the Flagship Initiatives under the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable development as a contribution to SDG 5 delivery.
Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective, and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets, and institutions.
Meet inspirational women driving change!
In conversation with
Maria Snoussi
Professor of coastal geosciences and PAP/RAC’s coordinator of the regional plan for the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima coastline
Ana Mišurović
Toxicologist and expert on marine pollution, and the first woman to serve as Minister of the Environment in Montenegro
Laura Khatib
Blue economy consultant and co-founder of the Lebanese NGO Guardians of the Blue
Ambassador for the Mediterranean Coast 2024
Samira Hamidi, the Secretary-General at Algeria’s Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, has dedicated over 30 years to championing coastal sustainability and biodiversity preservation. Her journey began in 1994 when she first entered the environmental sector, and she quickly rose through the ranks to become a leader in her field.
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Supporting women in coastal communities
Dr Sharawy stresses the importance of understanding gender differences in biodiversity practices, knowledge acquisition and resource control to guide effective conservation policies. “We must consider how gender differences and inequalities impact biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and how policies, programs, and initiatives affect men and women differently.”
She outlines several key actions to support women in coastal communities at the government level:
- Inclusion in decision-making: Women should be involved in all stakeholder groups related to coastal zone management activities, including the development of management plans for marine and coastal protected areas
- Training and awareness: Provide training on the linkages between gender and biodiversity for staff members of relevant organisations and local communities, and raise awareness of biodiversity issues among women’s organisations
- Building capacity: Ensure gender balance in capacity-building programs, offer targeted training for women’s groups, and develop a roster of gender experts
- Information dissemination: Share accessible information on international institutions and agreements related to gender equality
- Risk consideration: Address the different risks faced by men and women due to the implementation of enabling policies
- Monitoring and evaluation: Track gender balance in meetings and report progress toward gender equality
- Fieldwork support: Increase financial and logistical backing for fieldwork and ensure equal participation of men and women in surveys and fieldwork
- Community studies: Conduct studies on the specific community context and how communities perceive gender equality
- Equal rights to resources: Ensure equal rights to land, inheritance, and natural resources to empower women and promote sustainable agricultural and land management practices.
Dr Sharawy underlines the importance of equal land ownership for women, particularly as they increasingly take responsibility for agriculture due to male migration. “Land ownership enables women to access services that enhance their ability to manage land sustainably and contribute to biodiversity conservation.”
Addressing these challenges will require collective effort and a strong commitment to promoting gender equality for future generations. Though the path may be long, the benefits of lasting change are well worth the effort.
A message from Dr Heba Sharawy
PAP/RAC’s National Focal Point for Egypt
Dr Heba Sharawy, a leading voice in sustainable coastal development in Egypt, emphazises how gender equality can drive progress in biodiversity conservation and coastal management. As Head of the ICZM Central Department and General Manager for Environmental Economy at Egypt’s Ministry of Environment, she advocates for the integration of gender perspectives into environmental policies.
Overcoming gender challenges
“The roles and responsibilities of men and women in managing biodiversity, and their ability to participate in decision-making, vary across cultures”, says Dr Sharawy. “In most cases, gender-based disparities exist, favouring men. These are evident in economic opportunities, access to and control over land and biodiversity resources, decision-making power, and vulnerability to biodiversity loss, climate change, and natural disasters. Achieving gender equality and empowering women will take decades of work, especially in Arab societies where these issues are deeply rooted in cultural and social contexts.”
Speaking about Egypt, Dr Sharawy points to progress made through key legislative and institutional measures supporting women. “The 2014 Egyptian Constitution and the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030 have been crucial steps. The Constitution guarantees women equal opportunities and participation in society, while the National Strategy positions them as essential players in sustainable development, with all their rights protected by the Constitution.”
Run your own #MedCoastDay event!
Do you have great ideas for organising awareness-raising activities in your coastal community?
Share your event with us and put your community on the Coast Day map!
Experience Coast Day’s highlights
Welcoming messages for Mediterranean Coast Day 2024 celebration in Annaba, Algeria
Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP Coordinator
Anne-France Didier, heads up the French Ministry for the Sea and Biodiversity’s mission to achieve SDG 14
Explore past editions
Mediterrean Coast Day 2023 focused on coastal aquifers, with the main celebration held in Vlora, Albania
In 2022, Morocco hosted the main event in the vibrant city of Tangiers, highlighting the crucial theme of climate resilience
In 2021, the theme warned about the increasing coastal urbanisation and called for the promotion of sustainable tourism practices