On October 15, IICA will be supporting the International Day for Rural Women which this year will focus on the theme of “Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.
The International Day for Rural Women is followed by the World Food Day on October 16th and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17th highlighting issues that are linked with rural women’s empowerment.
According to the United Nations (UN), over a quarter of the world’s population is composed of Rural Women and majority of the 43% of women in the global agricultural labour force. Rural women feed nations, ensure food security for their communities and build climate resilience. Unfortunately, when it comes to owning land, accessing agricultural inputs, financing and technologies for climate resilience, they are left far behind men.
At the same time, existing gender inequalities and discriminations that constrain rural women’s decision-making power and participation in their households and their communities, are exacerbated by climate change and climate disasters. A changing climate also means that there is a shrinking window of opportunity to close gender gaps in agriculture.
During Argentina’s W20 (Women 20) summit held in August this year, IICA called on countries to urgently develop solid, long-term public policies for the benefit of women living in rural areas. The Institute also cautioned that, unless public authorities and civil society pay greater attention to the vulnerability of rural women, the divide would become deeper, generating painful social consequences.
The Government of Canada has already advanced the economic empowerment of women as a top priority in its development agenda, which seeks to address gender inequities in all its forms.
For more information:
Audia Barnett
audia.barnett@iica.int
