Regional Dialogue on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the Transformation of Food Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean
The discussion session begins with a few words from the dialogue curator, Ms. Eve Crowley, who summarizes the purposes of the proposed discussion and present a global vision on the relevance of the gender approach in food systems.
The transformation of food systems is a political, economic and environmental issue, but above all, it is a question of gender equality. The stark inequalities experienced by women and girls are both a cause and a result of unsustainable food systems, unfair access to food, consumption and production. Addressing gender injustice and truly empowering women is not only a fundamental prerequisite for transforming food systems, but also a goal in itself.
Shaping food systems so that they are conducive to gender equality requires a combination of improved knowledge, sound policies, regulations and investments throughout the production and consumption process. We need to reframe how we view women and food systems from mainly focusing on the role of women as producers and consumers to thinking about how food and agricultural systems contribute or can contribute to the process of empowering women and how these systems can create an environment conducive to the equal exercise of women's rights. There is also need for a special attention on climate change, urging us to observe “how women's responses to climate change strengthen the resilience of food systems" and "how women can be empowered to lead the development of climate-resilient food and agriculture systems."
A fair, transformative and gender equitable food system can be defined as one that allows countries, communities, households, and men and women, to have what is necessary to produce enough food and have the access to it, for their families and populations through sustainable, environmentally sound and climate resilient practices that favour gender equity and equality.