| dc.description.abstract | The health of our planet and humanity is threatened by biodiversity loss, disease and climate crises that are
unprecedented in human history, driven by our insatiable consumption and unsustainable production patterns,
particularly food systems. The One Health approach is a pathway to synergistically addressing outcomes in term of
health and sustainability, but gender issues at the One Health and biodiversity nexus are largely ignored.
By examining the roles and responsibilities of Indigenous and Local People, and especially women, in conserving
natural resources, and the social costs of living at the Human-Animal-Environment interface under current
conservation strategies, we show that women bear a disproportionate health, poverty and climate burden, despite
having pivotal roles in conserving biodiversity. To mitigate risks of emerging infectious diseases, food insecurity and
climate change impacts, a gender perspective has previously been proposed, but implementation lags behind.
Endemic zoonotic diseases, human-wildlife conflict and environmental pollution lack gender-sensitive frameworks.
We demonstrate that women can be powerful agents for change at all levels of society, from communities to
businesses, and policy-making institutions, but gender inequalities still persist.
We develop a framework for mainstreaming a gender-responsive and rights-based One Health approach, in order
to heal ourselves and nature. Using a leverage-points perspective, we suggest a change of paradigm, from the
pursuit of GDP and over-consumption, to a focus on human well-being and their reconnection with healthy
environments, using a One Health understanding of nature and health. We recommend learning from Indigenous
People to re-position ourselves within nature and to better conserve biodiversity. We also propose integration of
gender equity in leadership, the respect of human rights, women’s rights (access to health care, healthy food, land
tenure, natural resources, education, and economic opportunities), and the rights of nature, through the
implementation of gender-responsive and rights-based One Health Action Plans, at policy-making level, in the
private sector and the civil society. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unveil deep socio-economic inequities
in the wealthiest economies and the vital role of nature in supporting our health, we argue to seize this
opportunity to build back better and improve resilience and sustainability by using a gender-responsive and rightsbased
One Health approach. | en_US |
