On the global front lines of climate justice, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari. This year, the Peruvian Indigenous leader was awarded the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for her tireless work defending the Marañón River. A grandmother and leader of the Kukama people, Mariluz organized local women to launch…
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As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we highlight the critical role of women river defenders in shaping water governance across Asia and beyond. The world stands at a critical juncture in its journey towards sustainability and climate resilience. Among the most pressing issues is water governance, a complex challenge that requires an inclusive and…
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Date: Thursday, September 12th Time: 11am Location: Asia Pacific Feminist Forum, Chiang Mai, Thailand Hydropower continues to be promoted as part of the energy transition, backed by vested interests across the region, including energy, construction and consultancy companies, bankrolled increasingly in the context of ‘climate finance’ schemes. However, damming our rivers creates sacrifice zones, causing…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 10, 2024 Congress photos here MEDIA CONTACTS: Lin Hnin Aye, Oxfam, lin.hninaye@oxfam.org + 95 9 761 994118 Bonnie Barclay, International Rivers, bbarclay@internationalrivers.org, +1 323 363 4874 Thailand – Over 125 women leaders and partners from 18 countries convened in Chiang Rai, Thailand, for the Asia Women and Rivers Congress, a…
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Over 120 women leaders will join together next week for the Asia Women and Rivers Congress. The Asia Women and Rivers Congress will bring together women leaders from riverine and indigenous communities, civil society, academia, and policymakers to discuss water, energy, and climate change challenges that are faced in transboundary river basins that flow across…
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Published in partnership with Open Development Mekong All over the world, women play a critical role in providing, managing and safeguarding water resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and perspectives when making decisions about water. Years of experience have shown us that dams and other water infrastructure impact communities in gendered ways. Dam projects…
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By Isabella Winkler Three thousand miles apart, Nirmala’s and Violet’s experience led them both to the same calling: to protect the rivers in their communities. Growing up on a farm in rural Kenya without electricity, Violet Matiru developed a love of nature and the drive to fight its degradation early on. She began her environmental…
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In recognition of the critical role women play in shaping water solutions and the support needed to grow their impact, International Rivers partnered with Women’s Earth Alliance and launched the first Women and Rivers Accelerator Program in 2022 to strengthen the global movement of women river defenders. The first accelerator brought together 23 women river…
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International Rivers’ 2023 IWD Week List with some of the inspirational women Environmentalists you should know and follow Join International Rivers in celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth and #InternationalWomensDay this week. Women play critical leadership roles in providing, managing and safeguarding water and other natural resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and perspectives when making decisions…
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All over the world, women play a critical leadership and community role in providing, managing and safeguarding water resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and perspectives when making decisions about water. Years of experience have shown us that dams and other water infrastructure impact communities in gendered ways. Hydropower dam projects often exacerbate…
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by Petro Kotze and Nalori Chakma Connecting to riverine communities gave direction to her career Globally, young activists have increasingly taken a stand calling for social change. Zerin Ahmed is one of those inspiring young leaders. The 25-year-old activist and educator is based in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, where she promotes environmental education and…
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