Chemical Pollution Damaging the Brain Function

From: "Maureen Butter"

Gender Mainstreaming in the North has been embraced by most womens' organisations as equal representation in decision-making only. Unfortunately, identifying gendered environmental issues has been very poor.Therefore, perhaps, it is no wonder, that gender mainstreaming in environmental decision-making has not been a big thing. Some environmental ministries have taken the trouble, notably the German ministry, to identify gendered topics in environmental policies and programmes. But most
countries have not. Former EU commissioner Margot Wallstrom at least has consulted the womens' organisations, and some of their concerns, notably health of children and environmental hazards have been included in the EU environmental policy. Other gender issues, for example gender differences in vulnerability and exposure, transport, energy and rural development, have not been addressed in any way that I know of.

A very important issue in the north is chemical pollution and reproductive health. Womens' organisations like WECF and WEN have done a lot of awareness raising and advocacy work in this field. The developing fetus is extremely vulnerable to environmental contaminants like phthalates, pops, pesticides and fire retardants. Possibly for a host of other substances in our daily life too, because research in this field is just starting. Current results are alarming enough though. Look for example at the website of www.ourstolenfuture.org for a quick compilation of
recent research on environmental health disorders due to chronic low-levelexposures. Chemical production and consumption in the North has increased tenfold over the last ten years. As a consequence, low-level exposure to a host of substances, of which we know at best something of the acute effects, has risen as well. In industrialised regions there is an alarming increase of vulnerable groups: up to 25% of the children ! born today develop asthma or allergies. Women are exposed differently from men, due to the gendered division of labor and because of different consumption patterns, i.e. cosmetics and body care products. A very important peace of legislation on chemicals, called REACH, is currently being processed in the EU. As usual, the proposed directive and background documents are completely gender blind.

But calling for gender mainstreaming is calling to the deaf. The Ministry of Environment in the Netherlands has done nothing, apart from a token consultation in 2001, on gender mainstreaming. A very good proposal for awareness raising on chemicals among womens' organisations, was evaluated as a good project, but refuted on the grounds, that there was no added value mobilising the womens'organisations. The womens' NGOs are by far the best organised movement in the Netherlands, with a
constituency of over 1.5 million members (on a total population of 16 million)covering a very broad spectrum of sectors, thus offering excellent opportunity for integration. But no! Women are irrelevant. It is a shame to see, that not only men think so, but women as well!

Addressing environment issues:
a) Of course gender mainstreaming is important. There is no 'standard citizen': people differ in roles, resposibilities, vulnerabilities and risks, and despite social changes will continue to do so.It is not especially that women are invisible, but all activities beyond the market are, as are the specially vulnerable and powerless groups. Environmental rights and environmental justice is an important topic to address in this respect. Gender mainstreaming also offers an excellent opportunity for integration of environmental actions and programmes, because the
need to check in advance, how a measure in practice will affect activities,essential to life, but not directly partaking in the market economy. Thirdly, women can act as powerful agents for a change, if their needs are but addressed.

b) Womens' organisations should devote more attention to identify and
articulate gender issues in the environmental field, not just stick to
the representation and participation issue.

c) Political attention to gender issues has dwindled down to zero.
Apart from the violence issues and gender discrimination in ethnic or
religious minorities, it is assumed that all gender issues have been
resolved. The womens' movement could use ideological renewal too. Where are
the young women, reflecting on their gender identity and position? Are
there any new and exciting ideas emerging? If so, I'd like to hear them.

An important problem is funding. Although strong in numbers and
motivation, the womens' NGOs and institutions lack resources for research,
awareness raising, advocacy and implementation. It is a shame, that hardly
any resources are allocated to gender projects, both in research and
other civil society activities.

d) First of all, we would need enforcible rights. We need research
funding, especially in evironmental science and economics, and perhaps a
Gender Agency in the EU. This Agency should monitor gender mainstreaming,
advise on emerging issues and take action against member states and DGs
that do not deliver on this topic. Gender considerations should be part
of the terms of reference of all EU funding for whatever project or
programme.

"Gender" should also be an integral part of the concept of social
responsibility and translated into codes of conduct and guidance documents.