BONN, GERMANY (June 13, 2014)— The Women and Gender Constituency alongside the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) drafted the below letter to the Mexican Delegation at the intersessional in Bonn:

To the Delegation of Mexico, on behalf of the Government of Mexico;

The Women and Gender Constituency, representing networks of thousands of women’s rights and environmental justice activists and leaders, alongside the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA), a collective of over 90 UN agencies, Intergovernmental Organizations, and Civil Society Organizations, write today in recognition of the committed leadership of the Government of Mexico in ensuring gender equality is fully incorporated into the 2015 climate architecture.

According to the Mayan myth Popol Vuh, a Mayan sacred text, it was not until the goddess Ixmucane joined the gods in creating human kind that their efforts came to fruitful end and humanity was born.

Ensuring the equal recognition of women and men for a true and meaningful life is the only path for healthy and peaceful societies. Many have attempted to make progress without this acknowledgment yet they failed. But Mexico has not shied away from bringing a consistent voice in raising gender equality and human rights throughout this process and beyond. For this we write to thank you. Thank you for listening with an open mind to the views and perspectives of civil society and our partners on key priorities for the new agreement. And thank you for recognizing the importance of ensuring that climate policies and actions can respond to the rights, needs, perspectives and capacities of everyone: women and men alike.

Octavio Paz once said, “Everything is presence, the entirety of centuries are the present one. It is now our opportunity to act with the full understanding that we are making history.”

Both the Constituency and the GGCA will continue working to encourage other Parties to follow your example, championing gender equality both at national and international levels. You are not alone: you have our support in this endeavor, in changing how we respond to climate change, and making history. We are committed to work with you towards an effective, equitable and just new agreement that respects the human rights of all.

In solidarity,

Andrea Quesada & Usha Nair, Co-Focal Points on behalf of the Women and Gender Constituency

Cara Beasley, GGCA Secretariat, on behalf of the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA)