Holy See raises the plight of rural women at the UN
March 6, 2012: The Holy see has expressed at the UN its concern for the plight of
rural women throughout the world. Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer
of the Holy See to the United Nations said on Tuesday at the 56th session
of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), that it is important to recognize
the hunger and poverty suffered by the rural women, who make up a large portion of
the world’s population. Their deplorable situations include long hours of unpaid work, unhygienic situations, poor nutrition, lack of access to water, limited access to healthcare, discrimination and exposure to violence. All these challenges impact on their ability to care for themselves, their children and their families. Improving the lives of rural women will therefore assist their families, the community and society as a whole, the Archbishop added.
Unfair social and political systems perpetuate inequality, where women are deprived of legal rights and a voice in decisions that affect them. He called for joint initiatives by both men and women to overcome prejudice and implement policies, which respects fully the inherent dignity of the human person.
The Holy See welcomed the ongoing reflection on the essential role of women in society. Women, and in particular rural women, should be given the recognition that is due to them and they should be able to make an impact on the world around them. Full respect must be accorded to the dignity of women, which is grounded in the very nature of being human and from which flow both rights and responsibilities.
The upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio de Janeiro this June, will provide another opportunity to strengthen the attention on rural persons, including women and girls, and to increase their engagement in policymaking processes for building sustainable societies. The Secretary-General rightly indicated in his report that the advancement of rural women and girls is an essential part of the solution to today’s most serious global challenges. In this regard, my delegation cannot fail to bring attention to food security, poverty eradication and the central role of the family for integral development.
For its part, the Holy See remains committed to protecting the weakest and the poorest members of society and contributing to the common good of all.
| All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©. |