• The women's concerns include the need for equal participation and leadership positions in decision-making processes
• The conversations were held to build Mexico's position on the environment and urban planning from the bottom up

The third and final consultation with 70 women from government, civil society and academia from Querétaro has concluded; it will help incorporate women's concerns into Mexico's positions in the lead-up to the World Urban Forum and Stockholm+50. The event was organized by the Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Mexico, in coordination with the Queretaro Women's Institute, and was held at the Manuel Gómez Morín Cultural Educational Center in Querétaro.

It was attended by the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Martha Delgado; UNDP Resident Representative in Mexico, Lorenzo de Jiménez de Luis; the Director of the Queretaro Women's Institute, Marisol Kuri; the Queretaro State Undersecretary of Human Rights, Armando del Río; the Secretary for Women of the Municipality of Querétaro, Jessica Moncada; the UNDP National Gender Officer in Mexico, Sol Sánchez; the Director General for Global Issues, Camila Zepeda; the Director General for CSO Relations, Rodolfo Osorio de Carrera; and the Director General of Human Rights and Democracy, Cristopher Ballinas.

As in the two previous forums, various participants shared the conclusions of the consultation, which was moderated by Undersecretary Martha Delgado and attended by Paola Ramírez, from the Mexican Hydraulics Association and COTAS San Juan del Río; Dr. Arely Cárdenas, from the Autonomous University of Querétaro; Andrea Orozco, from the College of Architects; Ana Dosal Ellis, from the Mexican Hydraulics Association; Lily de Alba, social activist and member of the Women's Thematic Council (Todes Adelante Querétaro); and Elvia Ramírez, from the Women's Network for Development, Justice and Peace.

The consultations with women from the north, south and center of Mexico have identified areas of agreement on both environmental and urban issues. Women have voiced the need for equal participation and leadership positions in decision-making processes, in addition to including women from the most vulnerable communities and ethnic groups in the decision-making processes. Another issue is the importance of training public officials in the gender perspective.

For the Stockholm+50 forum, to be held on June 2-3, women in both rural and urban areas expressed the need to be recognized as managers of natural resources and to lead environmental projects and/or sustainable companies.

For the World Urban Forum, which will take place in Katowice, Poland from June 26-30, the participants noted the need to inform women and girls about their right to the city and how they can enjoy it. They also agreed on the importance of creating safe spaces for women: recreational areas with trained surveillance, illuminated environments and ways to report harassment on public transport, to cite a few examples.

In her remarks, Undersecretary Delgado said: "Women are the key to overcoming the problems that afflict our society. No global challenge can be addressed without taking into account the voice, proposals and vision of more than half of the world's population. Mexico has been distinguished by its leadership in the negotiations and is a pacesetter in combating climate change; and it has included a gender perspective in these efforts in recognition of the fact that women and girls face greater risks, problems and challenges due to the existing gender inequalities."

In his remarks, the UNDP resident representative in Mexico, Lorenzo de Jiménez de Luis, said: "I am very happy, both institutionally and personally, for the three consultations carried out under the leadership of Undersecretary Martha Delgado. This gives content to an initiative of the Mexican government, its feminist foreign policy, and puts the country at the forefront of the world's efforts. I am sure that the consultation in Querétaro will allow us to include very important ideas that will contribute to enriching Mexico's position and will make the voice of Mexico's women a reality."

The three consultations, which used the methodologies of the UNDP Accelerator Lab and Gender Unit in Mexico, are an unprecedented foreign policy exercise that demonstrates the interest and commitment of the Mexican government and Foreign Ministry in understanding the concerns and interests of hundreds of women who, with their ideas, will give Mexico a voice abroad.

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