FAO has been conducting a number of efforts in order to present the situation of rural women around the world at the Fourth Conference Regarding Women, to be held in Beijing in September 1995. Their main effort was centered around a participatory method based on consulting individuals and the consensus seeking deeper knowledge regarding rural women at different levels and the diverse areas by which they are influenced.
In this effort, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAO/RLC) has motivated the establishment of various activities throughout the entire region supporting preparatory initiatives for the Conference. A few of such activities are: subregional seminars and workshops, national meetings, research works on rural women and their contribution to agricultural and rural development, programs for their benefit and restraints and problems that still persist. The above was performed so as to offer subject matters for reflection and to provide the necessary actions required in order to obtain basic changes for women and rural society: in short, generally the search for equality, development and peace.
This work "Looking towards Beijing 95 - Rural Women in Latin America and the Caribbean: Situation, perspectives and proposals" is the result of reflection and a call to meditate on seeking the road beyond Beijing.
FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAO/RLC) called upon Consultant, Josefina Rossetti, sociologist, and also for the collaboration of Marcela Ferrer, sociologist with this endeavor. Also contributing to this effort are: consultant Isabel Valdivia, economist; Walter Lanz, sociologist, María Jesús Egaña, social worker, Sonia Antunes, sociologist all who worked under the coordination and organization of Vilma Aray, Regional Official for Women's participation in Development pertaining to FAO/RLC.
