Women in Europe for a Common Future
WECF is a network of 80 women's and environmental organisations in 37 countries of which 33 Western European and EECCA countries (Eastern Europe & Caucasus & Central Asia) and 5 other countries. WECF was officially registered in 1994. WECF has one coordinating office in Utrecht, The Netherlands and one in Munich, Germany, which manage the network, projects and finances. Website is [1]
WECF's roots
During the 'Earth Summit' in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 – a result of the UN report 'Our Common Future' - women were defined as a "major group" in sustainable development and environment policy. As the "Earth Summit" brought together many enthusiastic and active European women working for sustainable development, the representatives from Europe agreed to create the network organisation WECF.
Mission – Moving People for a World in balance
WECF strives for a Healthy Environment for All. We use women's potential in balancing environment, health and economy. WECF's activities are based in its partners own visions and needs. Therefore WECF implements solutions locally and influences policy internationally.
Goals and Issues
As a result of the WECF strategy meeting in May 2006, WECF reorganized its working structures and implemented a forward looking strategy.
Healthy Environment for all
WECF's overarching goal is to achieve a Healthy Environment for All: in the European Union, and its neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. To reach this overarching goal WECF works on four long-term goals: Safe Chemicals for All: by 2020 all consumer products are free of hazardous chemicals and toxic waste is safely eliminated Safe Energy for All: by 2020 everyone has access to safe, affordable and renewable energy Safe Food Production and Rural Development for All: by 2020 everyone has access to safe, regional and diverse food, based on fair production in balance with nature Safe Water and Sanitation for All: by 2020 everyone has access to safe and affordable water and sanitation and take preventive water protecting measures. Cross-cutting issues: to reach these goals WECF also works on Poverty Reduction, Sustainable Development, Public Participation and Environmental Rights.
WECF's four Strategies WECF uses four strategies to achieve the over-arching goal and the long-term goals.
Capacity building and Awareness-Raising
Advocacy and Policy Recommendations
Implementing Solutions, Demonstrating Alternatives
Gender: increasing balanced participation of women and men in policy making and implementation
WECF's Guiding Principles From local to global: WECF implements solutions locally and influences policy internationally by presenting their experience and recommendations to policy makers. WECF is looking for practical, innovative and cost-effective solutions always using local structures, capacities, know how, material, women and men power WECF is striving for dialogue by involvement of multi-stakeholders in its activities WECF is strengthening decentralized structures, local and regional markets and self-responsible civil societies WECF encourages an interrelated transfer of knowledge and capacities between West and East WECF promotes professionalism and competence WECF does not accept economic reasons for compromising on our children's and our own health
Our Vision By 2020 WECF is one of the best operating NGO networks operating in the pan- European region and with partners worldwide, contributing substantially to achieving a healthy environment for all and a world in balance; balance between economy and environment, health and growth, women and men, current and future generations.