All people are exposed to mercury on some level, but the greatest concern revolves around the exposure of women of child-bearing age because of its impact on future generations. The Minamata Convention pays specific attention to these effects on women and mentions the need to establish strategies to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations to mercury found in: artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), seafood consumption, dental amalgam, skin whiteners, and emissions from coal-fired power plants and other industries. Children, infants and fetuses are at the highest risk because of the development of the their nervous systems.
This refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities, and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equality implies that the interests, needs, and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration, recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equality is not a women’s issue but should concern and fully engage men as well as women. Equality between women and men is seen both as a human rights issue and as a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-centered development.
The preferred terminology within the United Nations is gender equality rather than gender equity. Gender equity denotes an element of interpretation of social justice, usually based on tradition, custom, religion, or culture, which is most often to the detriment of women. Such use of equity in relation to the advancement of women has been determined to be unacceptable.