The theme and slogan for the United Nations Observance of International Women's Day 2016 is "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality''

Today, the Rome-based UN agencies, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are celebrating 2016 International Women's Day at WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The event is showcasing examples of the agencies' work in reducing hunger by empowering women while highlighting the sustainable development that can be achieved through greater gender equality.

Working towards gender equality is one of the UN's top priorities. Indeed, it is one of the 17 Global Goals within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the UN on September 2015. Though the role and the presence of women aims to be strengthened within many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 5 aims to directly "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls" and calls for recognizing the fundamental role women play in guaranteeing food security.

Watch the live webcast of the celebration of International Women's Day in Rome via UN Women, the United Nations Entitity for Gender Equality.

Working towards gender equality in the fisheries sector

Though many believe the fisheries and aquaculture sector is male dominated, women play a vital role 

in these value-chains, particularly within the processing and post-harvesting subsector. It is estimated that roughly half of the entire fisheries sector is comprised of women workers, though sadly their contributions are often not recognized, they are underpaid and face unsanitary, dangerous and compromised working conditions.

In 2015, FAO GLOBEFISH published a report on the role of women in the seafood industry, with the aim to increase knowledge and sensitization about the value women bring to the seafood industry. To access the full report, click here.