Gender Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean face a context of economic slowdown, with an increase in food insecurity, malnutrition and the risks associated with climate change. This situation strongly affects rural women and constitutes a significant obstacle to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

That is why FAO is committed to promoting gender equality and protecting women's rights as fundamental human rights.

Consequently, FAO Policy on Gender Equality 2020-2030 mandates the Organization to focus its work on achieving equality between women and men in sustainable agriculture and rural development with a view to eliminating hunger and poverty.

This site reports on the work in favour of gender equality carried out by FAO in cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean States, providing information on initiatives, good practices, methodologies and tools that contribute to the achievement of gender equality.

Stories

Rural women in Haiti invest in themselves

Village savings and loan associations help Haitian women build their businesses and futures

Women move mountains

Supporting inspiring mountain women as they overcome discrimination, livelihood disruptions and climate challenges to carve out new futures

Mujeres Rurales, Mujeres con Derechos [Rural Women, Women With Rights] Campaign

The campaign convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is a collaborative work initiative that joins efforts, articulates networks, disseminates knowledge and positive experiences to promote the full autonomy of women in the rural world.

Since 2016 this campaign articulates government entities, civil society organisations and United Nations agencies around regional and national advocacy actions in favour of the empowerment of rural women in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Actions

Year	Action
2016	Regional social media campaign
2017	Regional campaign on social networks and competitions at territorial level.
2018	Regional social media campaign and platform to energize sub-regional agendas.
2019	Days of social media activism and national activities.
2020-2021	Regional campaign on social networks and competitions at territorial level.

Photos

Join the conversation

@MujerRuralALC

Featured publications

The status of women in agrifood systems

01/2023

The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report provides the latest data, lessons learned and recommendations for policy and decision makers about gender in agrifood systems. It reviews and analyzes women’s opportunities and constraints in economic and social processes, while taking stock and assessing progress made in closing a series of gender gaps.

Practical guide for the Incorporation of the Intersectionality approach in sustainable rural development programmes and projects

11/2022

In Latin America and the Caribbean, access to food and nutritional security, the poverty situation, and the capacity to respond to climate change are strongly related to gender, ethnic-racial origin, age group, and territory differences. A situation that demands observing the intertwined nature of these inequalities and proposing new ways to achieve sustainable development, leaving no one behind.

FAO Policy on Gender Equality 2020–2030

06/2021

Gender equality is essential to achieve FAO’s mandate of a world free from hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. The Organization recognizes that persisting inequalities between women and men are a major obstacle to agriculture and rural development and that eliminating these disparities is essential to building sustainable and inclusive food systems and resilient and peaceful societies.

Transformative initiatives

Chile

Dec 20, 2023, 12:57 PM

Title : Chile

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Mesa de Mujeres en la Pesca Artesanal

Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service is promoting a Roundtable of Women in Artisanal Fisheries, a space for dialogue with women fishers, shellfish and seaweed harvesters, and fish processors from all over Chile.

This roundtable seeks to strengthen the recognition of the role of women in artisanal fisheries, as well as to develop training programmes, such as the Course for Women Leaders in Artisanal Fisheries, where participants can improve their leadership and management skills.

SERNAPESCA hopes that this space for dialogue will encourage the productive development of fisherwomen and promote better public-public coordination to effectively manage concrete actions in favour of women in small-scale fishing.

The second meeting of this roundtable took place in August 2020 and was attended by almost 50 women leaders from the artisanal sector. They focused on issues related to the visibility and empowerment of women in the fisheries sector in the context of COVID-19.