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.
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 15th October, the United Nations commemorates the International Day of Rural Women, under the theme, “Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”, closely followed by World Food Day (16th October) and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17th October).
This year, we are calling for better public services, including health care, education, childcare and shelters, on which millions of rural women depend; and laws, policies and budgets to improve their livelihoods and well-being. We stand in solidarity with rural women and their organizations everywhere as they seek to influence the decisions that shape their lives.
