The Natural History Research Center and Museum / University of Baghdad, with the support and guidance of the Center’s Director, Assistant Professor Dr. Hana Hani Al-Saffar, organized a workshop entitled (Women’s Representation in Environmental Decision-Making) on Thursday, June 11, 2026, organized by the Center’s Women’s Affairs Committee. The workshop was managed by Chief Agricultural Engineer Enas Abdel Khalifa and delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Khansa Rasheed and Assistant Lecturer Khaleda Ibrahim Hassoun.
The workshop discussed environmental decision-making, which is the process of identifying and analyzing environmental problems and choosing the best alternatives to address them. This includes setting environmental policies, managing natural resources, controlling pollution, and protecting biodiversity. This process takes place at multiple levels, starting from the family and local community to governments and international organizations. The effectiveness of these decisions increases when women participate alongside men
The workshop aimed to introduce the concept of environmental decision-making and its importance in achieving sustainable development.
Clarifying the role of women as an essential partner in protecting the environment and managing natural resources and enhancing awareness of the importance of women’s participation in environmental planning and policies.
Highlighting women’s contributions to confronting environmental challenges and climate change, while recognizing women’s role in preserving biodiversity and natural resources.
Discussing the challenges and obstacles that limit women’s participation in environmental decision-making, in addition to reviewing the mechanisms and strategies necessary to empower women environmentally.
Encouraging institutions and communities to support women’s participation in environmental issues, promoting the concept of shared responsibility between the genders to achieve environmental sustainability, and finally stimulating community initiatives led by women to protect the environment.
The most important recommendations that came out of the workshop are to enhance the representation of women in institutions, bodies and committees concerned with the environment at the local and national levels, while supporting women’s participation in developing environmental policies and strategies and making decisions related to the management of natural resources. Providing specialized training programs to build leadership and technical capabilities for women in environmental fields. Integrating women and environmental issues into national plans for sustainable development, and finally encouraging research and studies that highlight the role of women in protecting the environment and achieving sustainability.
This activity achieves the fourth goal (quality education), the fifth goal (gender equality), and the thirteenth goal (climate action) of the Sustainable Development Goals.
