Jakarta, IO – The Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders (WEHRDs) Summit, held recently in Bali, centered on the theme “Protecting Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders Amid the Low-Emission Economic and Energy Transition,” while adopting the slogan “Demanding Accountability and Strengthening Protection.”

The WEHRDs Summit 2026 brought together women environmental and human rights defenders from across Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen solidarity, share experiences and formulate protection strategies amid growing challenges posed by development, infrastructure, extractive industry and low-emission energy projects.

Over the two-day event, participants took part in panel discussions and thematic workshops on climate finance accountability, protection for Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders (WEHRDs) and strategies to strengthen advocacy at both the national and international levels. The program aimed to enhance participants’ capacity to respond to risks including criminalization, intimidation and violence, which frequently arise in conflicts over natural resources.

According to Nukila Evanty, Chairperson of the Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative (IMA) and Executive Director of the Women Working Group (WWG), advocacy efforts have found that women, children, marginalized communities and other vulnerable groups bear the greatest impact of such projects.

Nukila said the conference addressed a wide range of issues, with one of the most pressing being the lack of meaningful dialogue and public participation in many development projects. More troubling, she said, is that businesses entering the living spaces of local and Indigenous communities often disregard their aspirations and needs. She cited a number of business and investment projects that have already exerted adverse impacts, including geothermal projects in East Nusa Tenggara, coal-fired power plants, illegal gold and metal mining in Sumatra and nickel mining projects in Sulawesi.

Drawing on years of advocacy work in remote and outer islands with marginalized communities, Nukila expressed concern over the health impacts of these business and industrial activities, particularly on women and children. Polluted river water has contributed to gastrointestinal diseases, while air pollution from fine coal dust has caused respiratory illnesses, skin irritation and even the appearance of abnormal lumps on the body.

According to Nukila, the forum brought about several key recommendations that require follow-up. First, advocacy strategies need to be elevated by making better use of both online and offline platforms. She noted that a number of women’s organizations have successfully expanded the reach of their campaigns through social media.

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Second, women activists leading nongovernmental organizations must remain vigilant and prioritize the physical, mental and psychological safety of themselves and their families.

Third, consistency and solidarity are essential in continuing the collective struggle for gender equality.

“Through this forum, we feel stronger and we are better equipped with information about the impacts of these projects and possible responses. We have also gained a better understanding of how to use both legal and non-legal mechanisms at the international level, and how to access grant funding to support advocacy,” Nukila said.

She hoped that the forum will further strengthen advocacy efforts and community assistance programs. “Women environmental defenders are on the front lines of protecting living spaces. Their protection must therefore become a shared responsibility, so that development projects are carried out in a fair, inclusive manner, one that respects human rights and gender equality,” she said.

The WEHRDs Summit 2026 concluded with a joint reflection on the lessons learned during the forum and a renewed collective commitment to continue supporting women environmental and human rights defenders at local, national and international levels. (des)