Asian Pastoralist Women Gathering Launches IYRP 2026

In Ahmedabad, India, a big meeting called the Asian Pastoralist Women Gathering (APWG) started on December 11, 2023.

This meeting is important because it marks the beginning of a global event called the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) in 2026.

The IYRP is a year declared by the United Nations to help people understand and support the sustainable management of rangelands and the lives of pastoralists.

The APWG is a three-day event that will end on December 13 with a special session called a pastoralist women's parliament.

The meeting is about making sure that women who are herders and pastoralists have the right to land, are treated fairly, and are part of efforts to protect the environment.

In countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, these women contribute a lot to their national economies.

For example, in India, they contribute 4.11% of the country's GDP.

The gathering aims to update a declaration called MERA to better recognize and support the rights of pastoralist women.