FAO Women's Committee - VIRTUALiTEA “2nd Anniversary of the FAO Women’s Committee”
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
18/10/2021
FAO WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
VIRTUALiTEA
“2nd Anniversary of the FAO Women’s Committee”
Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
18 October 2021
Her Excellency the First Vice-President of Costa Rica,
Dear colleagues,
1. I am pleased to see that as we gradually return to a normal working situation, we are still keeping up the tradition of our “VirtualiTea” organized by the FAO Women’s Committee.
2. These virtual teas are important for two reasons:
3. First, they keep us connected with colleagues from all around the world.
4. Second, as an important platform to share, discuss and showcase ideas and actions that can empower women - and through them the Organization.
5. As the founder - and number one supporter - of the FAO Women’s Committee, today I am very happy and proud to wish you a Happy Two Year Birthday!
6. Congratulations!
7. During the past two years, under the leadership of the Chair of the Committee DDG Semedo,
8. The Women’s Committee has helped the Organization to build a space where women are able to openly express themselves and share their experiences on issues of concern, both professional and personal, with women colleagues, and men, across all the FAO Offices worldwide.
9. The Women’s Committee is drawing attention to and supporting the work carried out by FAO’s Gender Team, particularly mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment across all the activities of the Organization, and in order to meet the UN System-Wide Strategy on Gender Parity (UN-SWAP).
10. In this regard, the Women’s Committee has acted as a brainstorming mechanism for the professional development of women employees within the Organization, and to achieve gender parity.
11. Gender equality, diversity and inclusion are high on the FAO agenda, and close to my heart.
12. FAO has updated its Policy on Gender Equality, which will drive the Organization’s work over the next decade.
13. Since taking office, I have also ensured that FAO now has a more modern parental leave policy, with increased maternity and paternity leave.
14. And we are soon launching the first-ever Mentorship Programme, co-sponsored by the FAO Women’s and Youth Committees.
15. Last Friday we celebrated World Food Day – which coincided with the International Day of Rural Women.
16. Women are the backbone of the rural world – and by extension – of agriculture.
17. We must advocate for their better and increased representation in leadership, governance and decision-making roles.
18. As well as for equal access to resources, services and socio-economic opportunities.
19. Women are also often the primary family caregivers – from preparing meals to taking care of children and the elderly, to running households and providing financially for their families.
20. All these activities – carried out by women – are crucial to ensure better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life for all – which is at the core of FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022-2031.
Your Excellency,
21. We had the opportunity to meet a few months ago and talk about the challenges facing rural women – especially indigenous women.
22. Your work aimed at empowering the most vulnerable – and often invisible – groups in society, inspires us all to think differently and innovatively,
23. In empowering the next generation of women to be guardians of our natural resources, for our shared future and that of our planet.
Dear Colleagues,
24. I look forward to hearing today’s VirtualiTea discussion.
25. Once again, Happy Birthday to the FAO Women’s Committee!
26. Thank you.