October 15: International Day of Rural Women

The International Day of Rural Women is observed every year on October 15 to recognize the crucial role and contribution of rural women. The 2017 theme of the day is “Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.
The observance of day highlights role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women in enhancing rural and agricultural development, eradicating rural poverty and improving food security and ensuring sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall wellbeing.

Background

The International Day of Rural Women was instituted by the UN General Assembly by passing resolution 62/136 in December 2007. It was first observed on15 October 2008. According to UN, empowerment of rural women is pre-requisite for fulfilling vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) which aims at ending poverty and hunger, achieve food security and empower all women and girls.
Rural women, make up over a quarter of the total world population. Majority of them depend on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood.  They produce, prepare and process much of the food available, thereby giving them primary responsibility for food security. Thus, International Day of Rural Women recognises contribution and significant role played by these rural women in food security and poverty elevation.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2017