A gender-sensitive perspective on the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), also known as the Rio Conventions. First, the Rio conventions will be placed in their historical context and their administrative and financial framework. Secondly, the main gender issues relevant to the three conventions will be exposed. A comparative overview of the level of gender mainstreaming in each of the international instruments relating to the Rio Conventions at study here will be given. The essay will conclude with a review of a few key issues in convention implementation, in relationship with gender.