The Asia Women and Rivers Congress was held from June 4–6, 2024 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The congress was organized with the support of the Mekong Community Institute (MCI), MFU, Oxfam Mekong Water Governance Program, Oxfam in Asia, Oxfam in Cambodia, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Greengrants Fund, Synchronicity Earth, GIZ Thailand, Open Development Cambodia, Open Development Mekong, Sida, Styrrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, SIMAVI, Network of Indigenous Women in Asia (NIWA), Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Southeast Asia, and Oxfam Southeast Asia.
More than 125 women leaders, Indigenous representatives, community members, researchers, legal experts, policymakers, and journalists from 18 countries participated in the Congress. Waterkeepers Bangladesh has long been working to protect rivers in collaboration with International Rivers. As part of this ongoing effort and with the aim of promoting more women leadership in river conservation in Bangladesh, three women river leaders—Sanjida Rahman, Farha Mahmud Trina, and Anika Tahsin—participated in the Women and Rivers Congress.
The Congress brought together river defenders from remote regions including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh, Laos, and Cambodia, along with esteemed representatives from donor agencies from countries like Australia, the United States, and other developed and developing nations. They engaged in thoughtful exchanges and clear discussions on shared perspectives and future strategies.
The convening of this international congress was hailed as a significant milestone in advocating for more effective participation of women in water resource management and climate resilience. Women, as guardians of rivers and protectors of communities surrounded by riverine ecosystems, stood united in their commitment to safeguarding these vital lifelines.
The congress called for honoring the courage and determination of Indigenous peoples and women, who serve as crucial defenders of the environment and human rights. It recognized and welcomed the women-led movements dedicated to protecting rivers and all living beings dependent on them. Building on stories of women’s resistance, the congress urged for regional strategies and collective action to protect the environment.
Water is the lifeblood of human communities and all living organisms. Yet, exploitative development practices—including dam construction, mining, and industrial expansion—are being prioritized over human well-being and cultural heritage. Rivers not only sustain surrounding ecosystems and help combat climate change but also ensure inclusive and just energy transitions.
Women environmental defenders often face harassment and violence. Therefore, the congress called upon all governments, institutions, and the international community to protect the guardians of water, land, traditional knowledge, and its implementation. The struggle to ensure water security, food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and biodiversity continues.
To establish safe spaces and build solidarity, there is an urgent need to form a united and empowered women's movement that transcends all boundaries. Through training the next generation of women in river protection and engaging in strategic discussions, participants strengthened their collective knowledge, networks, and collaboration. The congress recognized and valued the traditional, Indigenous, and scientific knowledge systems led by women.
A call was made for urgent transformative change that respects the rights of Indigenous peoples and women and acknowledges their crucial roles as environmental defenders and stewards of community resources. Participants also demanded compensation and accountability from governments, the private sector, and international financial institutions for the damage inflicted on communities and ecosystems.
The central goal of the congress was to encourage collective action. Women river defenders from Indigenous and riverine communities, civil society, and policy sectors gathered to enhance their capacities and define future strategies, urging women to take the lead in more effective and united efforts. Free-flowing rivers are vital to environmental and cultural resilience. The future depends on achieving equal opportunities for women and inclusive decision-making across political, economic, and social spheres. From small water bodies to vast oceans, we are stronger together.
Ayesha D’Souza, Women and Rivers Program Lead at International Rivers, stated, “We are in a moment of global crisis that demands we take gender and environmental issues more seriously.” She added, “The collective power, skills, and exchange of knowledge demonstrated by the women at this congress signifies the meaningful change we are leading.”
During the congress, on June 5th—World Environment Day—participants issued a strong solidarity statement calling for urgent transformative change. The statement emphasized the active role of women environmental defenders in safeguarding rivers, territories, and Indigenous communities.
The solidarity statement emphasized the following key points:
• The protection of rivers and territories is an integral part of climate action and must ensure just and inclusive energy transitions.
• Women environmental defenders across the world are facing harassment and violence. Governments and international organizations must take urgent steps to ensure their safety and protection.
• There must be genuine commitments and concrete actions to provide compensation in cases of land acquisition from Indigenous and local communities.
• The rights of Indigenous peoples and local women defenders must be respected, and their critical roles in environmental protection and the stewardship of Indigenous community resources must be acknowledged and recognized through appropriate measures.