Marking the International Day of Rural Women, the United Nations affirmed the role of women as significant and crucial for the progress of rural households, local and national economies.

"They are farmers and farm workers, horticulturists and market sellers, business women and community leaders. Rural women are the backbone of sustainable livelihoods and provide food security for their families and communities," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message marking the occasion.

Mr. Ban also noted that the International Day falls just after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last month. He urged the global leaders to seize the opportunity offered by the new framework to transform rural women’s lives.

"The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have gender equality and women’s empowerment at their core, and include a target to «double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women." Indeed, rural women are critical to the success of almost all the 17 SDGs," said Mr. Ban.

"We must build resilient social protection systems, labour and product markets, governance institutions, and civil society organizations so that rural women can both contribute to and benefit from sustainable development," said the Secretary-General.

Adapted from the UN website

Photo: FAO