Gender responsive language in the GST

Legal assistance paper

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Date produced: 08/12/2023

Query: 

  • Please review submissions to the GST to identify and summarise inclusion of gender (inc. LWPG).
  • On the basis of those submissions, please recommend how gender could be included in GST1 outputs, and where under the current headings. 
  • Please detail other ways, if any, in which gender could be considered as part of the GST1 outputs.  

Preliminary points  

    This query was received prior to the publication of the first draft of the GST1 text by the Co-Chairs. While we have referred to parties’ written submissions to the GST prior to the commencement of SBSTA 59/ SBI 59 we have focussed mostly on the parties’ oral interventions in response to the first draft of the proposed text (published on 1 December 2023)1 during informal consultations, and how these have been reflected in the second draft of the proposed text (published on 5 December 2023).2 

    At the time of writing, the time of writing on 6 December, the first round of informal consultations on the first draft of the text have concluded and a second draft of the text has been circulated. Parties met between 5-6 December in informal consultation to finalise a new draft. Recent sessions have emphasised the limited time available and have asked Parties to be succinct with their interventions. We enclose with this advice a redline comparison between versions 1 and 2 of the draft text for your ease of reference. 

    The proposed texts circulated by the Co-Chairs have been formulated as ‘building blocks’ that include various drafting options for the Parties’ consideration.  

    Finally, we have broadened the scope of the query to capture references to and discussion of the role of ‘women’ as well as ‘gender’. Please note that none of the parties’ submissions refer to the Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender (the LPWG).