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October 2001

World Rural Women's Day

15 October 2001

World Rural Women's Day takes place each year on the 15th of October. The theme for 15 October 2001 is Peace for rural women to achieve food security

This year, the international celebration will take place in Uganda, but this event will also be an occasion for rural women throughout the world to highlight their contribution to rural development and food security.

Origin and Celebrations

The idea of a World Rural Women's Day to be devoted each year to honour rural women began at a UN Conference for 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 us 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.

The purpose of the day

It was to provide rural women and their organisations with a focal point to:

1. raise the profile of rural women,
2. sensitise both governments and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognised, roles and
3. promote action in their support. Initiative on how to celebrate this day is left to individual organisations 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.

Worldwide Information Campaigns:

"Rural Women Voices for Peace and Development" - 2000
"Give Credit to Rural Women" - 1999
"Human Rights for All Rural Women" - 1998
"Towards Food Security: Invest in Rural Women" - 1997

Links to

• International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
  www.rural-womens-day.org



• Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF)
  www.woman.ch/