Empowering Rural Women Key to Boosting Welfare of Societies: UN

(March 08, 2012) The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined other senior United Nations officials on International Women’s Day in highlighting the potential of rural women to improve the well-being of entire societies if given equal access to resources and set free from the discrimination and exploitation that hold them back. “The plight of the world’s rural women and girls mirrors that of women and girls throughout society,” Mr. Ban said at UN Headquarters while commemorating the Day, which is observed annually on 8^th of March. This year’s theme is ‘Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty.’ He acknowledged that women are increasingly exercising greater influence in business, government, politics, public administration and other professions. Also, more girls are going to school and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential. But, despite this momentum, there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being,” he said. Rural women and girls make up a quarter of the global population, yet they routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income, education and health to participation in decision-making, Mr. Ban said. They perform most of the unpaid care work in rural areas and are a major part of the agricultural labour force, making up almost half a billion smallholder farmers and landless workers. In her message to mark the Day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged governments, community leaders and heads of families to recognise and tap the enormous potential of women to positively impact the world around them. “This is a call directed not at any particular region of the world – it is a global call because the failure to capitalise on women’s potential is a global problem,” she said. She stressed that participation requires that women are able to access relevant information and are empowered through education and political access.