International Day of Rural Women

Rural women make up a quarter of the world’s population. They grow much of our food, strengthen economies and build climate resilience. UN Women statement On the International Day of Rural Women , UN Women calls upon the international community to work with rural women and girls everywhere and to invest in the sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection that can revolutionize their livelihoods, well-being and resilience .  Read more» From championing access to clean water in Kyrgyzstan to boosting sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia, rural women are mobilizing to support one another, and their contributions are vital for both rural communities and urban societies. Yet, on almost every measure of development, because of gender inequalities and discrimination, they fare worse than rural men or urban women. On October 15th , the United Nations commemorates the International Day of Rural Women, under the theme, “ Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protect...

Rural women ensure food security for their communities, build climate resilience and strengthen economies. Yet, gender inequalities, such as discriminatory laws and social norms, combined with a fast-changing economic, technological and environmental landscape restrict their full potential, leaving them far behind men and their urban counterparts.