15 October-International Day of Rural Women About the day: World Rural Womens Day takes place each year on 15 October. Rural women around the world play a major role in ensuring food security and in the development and stability of the rural areas. Yet, with little or no status, they frequently lack the power to secure land rights or to access vital services such as credit, inputs, extension services, training and education. Their vital contribution to society goes largely unnoticed. World rural Womens Day aims to change this by bringing rural women out of obscurity at least once a year - to remind society how much they owe to rural women and to give value and credit to their work. About the activities: Activities can be organized independently in different ways according to specific local priorities and traditions. It is important, however, that any activities or events be concrete and visible to raise the profile of rural women in the public eye. It is up to your own organization, group or committee to make this day meaningful according to your own circumstances. Some ideas: Exposure and publicity. Mention World Rural Womens Day in all your publications, newsletters, networks or homepage, contact your local or national radio explaining why it is important that the role and work of rural women is recognized. Hold a press conference, organize an exhibition, and create a national award for exceptional rural women or womens groups. Collaboration: Link up with sister organizations, other womens group for a joint event and to reinforce each others efforts. For example, convene a panel discussion and invite rural womens NGOs to present their projects, discuss their needs, what works and what doesnt. Find out what your national FAO committee for World Food Day is doing - suggest a joint activity - join in with their celebrations. Contacts: Inform local authorities, such as local extension agents, the mayor, and headman and tell them what you are doing. Issue rising: Write a letter to your Minister of Agriculture or Prime Minster drawing attention to the contribution and problems facing rural women in your country. If possible, propose to visit the Minister with a delegation - or invite the Minister to come to your World Rural Womens Day event. Special events: Organize, for example, a village fair, a stand in the main street, a sale of foodstuffs or handicrafts, put on a play or a show, with songs and music to draw attention to your contribution to sustainable development and problems as rural women, invite the mayor, headman, local authorities as guests, organize a regional workshop on an issue of specific concern to rural women or a national parade through your capital city, with banners, music, etc. Did you know: Rural women comprise more than one quarter of the total world population. 500 million women live below the poverty line in rural areas. Women produce 60-80% of basic foodstuffs in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Women perform over 50% of the labor involved in intensive rice cultivation in Asia. Women perform 30% of the agricultural work in industrialized countries. Women head 60% of households in some regions of Africa: Women meet 90% of household water and fuel needs in Africa. Women process 100% of basic household foodstuffs in Africa.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 03:56:00 +0000
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