When several international NGOs launched in 1995 the World Rural Women’s Day during the 4th United Nations (UN) World Conference on Women in Beijing, women’s organisations thought rural women would get the development attention they deserve. Various events take place in more than 100 countries around the world every October 15 with the united aim of uplifting rural women’s lives.

This year though, after more than a decade of celebration, some do not see any reason to rejoice.

Rural women all over the world—mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs—play significant roles in ensuring food security and rural development. However, despite their substantial contributions to the well-being of their families and the development of rural economies, their roles are hardly ever recognised. With little or no status, rural women frequently lack the power to secure land rights or to access vital services such as credit, trainings, and education.

Judy Pasimio, Programme Officer for the Women and Environment Programme of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (APWLD), in her article “October 15 World Rural Women's Day—but who's celebrating?” wrote that “Every year, on World Rural Women's Day, international NGOs come out with an open letter to the rural women of the world, which they cannot read, as they are occupied with their lives and their deaths. Posters are printed with their faces, celebrating rural women’s contribution in food production, in caring for the earth, in nurturing life. They become no more than subjects of glossy papers, of matte prints, of thought-provoking discourse. Rural women are almost always the subject, but never the main voice.”

This year’s celebration, with the theme “Rural Women: Leaders of Tomorrow,” aims to give rural women a stronger voice in decision making that would significantly impact on public policy, that in turn would lead to equality in gender rights, increase in women’s incomes, and a greater quality of life for all marginalised groups.

On World Rural Women’s Day 2006, all over the world, women farmers are working to develop the necessary strategies that will allow rural women to become the leaders of tomorrow. To achieve this, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) has developed recommendations for rural women’s groups, governments, and farmer organisations in five main areas, namely: (1) identity, (2) dialogue, (3) information, (4) independence, and (5) sphere of influence. This means that training and financial support programs must be made available; legislation promoting parity within decision-making bodies must be enacted, without neglecting awareness-raising campaigns. Rural women, on their part, must be able to enter into partnerships, to develop networks, and to create cooperation links to become stronger and better organized.

Despite the lack of progress, rural women still hope there would be reason to celebrate next year.

Backgrounder

History of the World Rural Women's Day

The idea of a World Rural Women's Day to be devoted each year to honor rural women began at a UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995. The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Network of African Rural Women Associations (NARWA), and the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) were the main proponents of the day.

This was considered a practical way of obtaining recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women who are mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs. Rural women make up more than a quarter of the world population. They contribute to the wellbeing of their families and the development of rural economies. Because of their key role in food production and food security, it was decided that the World Rural Women's Day fall on the 15 October - the day before the World Food Day.

World Rural Women's Day aims to:

1. raise the profile of rural women;

2. sensitize both government and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognized roles; and

3. promote action in their support. Initiative on how to celebrate this day is left to individual organizations and communities, according to their own traditions and requirements. Stress is placed on the importance of activities or events being concrete and visible. This action - undertaken by rural and farming women in all parts of the world on the very same day - strengthens the impact of the day.

Facts on Rural Women

• Around 1.6 billion rural women, mainly farmers, represent more than a quarter of the world’s population.

• Women produce, on average, more than half of all the food that is grown: up to 80% in Africa, 60% in Asia, between 30% and 40% in Latin America and Western countries.

• Women own only 2% of land, and receive only 1% of all agricultural credit.

• Only 5% of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.

• The number of rural women living in poverty has doubled since 1970.

Source: World Rural Women's Day, <http://www.rural-womens-day.org/>

Sources:

“October 15 World Rural Women's Day—but who's celebrating?” from Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific, posted on October 11, 2006,<http://www.panap.net/uploads/media/APWLD_WRW.pdf>.

World Rural Women's Day. <http://www.rural-womens-day.org/>

Women's World Summit Foundation. <http://www.woman.ch/women/2-introduction.asp>