International Day of Rural Women: 15 October

The United Nations (UN)’s International day of rural women is annually observed across the world on 15 October to highlight the role of rural women and girls, including indigenous women, in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihood, and overall well-being.

Context

The United Nations (UN)’s International day of rural women is annually observed across the world on 15 October to highlight the role of rural women and girls, including indigenous women, in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihood, and overall well-being.

• The day also aims to eliminate stereotype and discrimination against women and girls.

Background 

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A / RES / 62/136 on 18 December 2007, and declared October 15 each year as International Women's Day.
• The first International Women's Day was observed on October 15, 2008.

Theme

• The theme for the 2021 Rural Women's Day is “Rural Women Cultivating Good Foods for All”, highlighting the role of rural women and girls in the global food system.

Women in agriculture

• Women constitute around 43% of the global agriculture labour force and on average women make up 40% of the agriculture labour force in developing countries , ranging from 20% in Latin America to 50% or more in parts of Africa and Asia.
• These women face severe discrimination in land and livestock management, equal pay, decision-making bodies and access to financial services.
• To address discrimination, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), operates at two  levels,
• At the Government level: Ensuring that policies promote gender equality
• At individual  level: To empower women with entrepreneurial and  business planning skills,to make them independent to participate in the local economy.

UN Women Report

• In September 2021, UN women launched a report entitled “beyond covid-19:A Feminist plan for sustainbility and social justice “ which is the key to gender-responsive recovery from the effects of COVID-19.