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"Women move mountains" theme of International Mountain Day 2022

26.01.2022

Women move mountains is the theme of this year's International Mountain Day on 11 December.

Women play a key role in environmental protection and social and economic development in mountain areas. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture and experts in traditional medicine.

Increasing climate variability, coupled with a lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, has often pushed men to migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods. Women have therefore taken on many tasks formerly done by men, yet mountain women are often invisible due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to resources.

As farmers, market sellers, businesswomen, artisans, entrepreneurs and community leaders, mountain women and girls, in particular in rural areas, have the potential to be major agents of change. When rural women have access to resources, services and opportunities, they become a driving force against hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty and are active in the development of mountain economies.

To trigger real change towards sustainable development, it is important to engage in gender transformative change.

International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity raise awareness about the need to empower mountain women so they can participate more effectively in decision-making processes and have more control over productive resources. By sharing excellence, opportunities and capacity development in mountains, the Day can promote gender equality and therefore contribute to improve social justice, livelihoods and resilience.

In the coming months, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat will prepare communication materials in all six UN languages. These will be made available on the official website.

To mark the Day, we encourage organizing safe, socially distanced activities, including virtual presentations and events, photo and art competitions, and hikes. Please contact [email protected] with news of the celebrations you are planning. Meanwhile, join the conversation on social media using the #MountainsMatter.

While “Women move mountains” is the suggested theme for 2022, countries, communities and organizations are welcome to celebrate International Mountain Day through a theme that is more relevant to them.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.

Learn more about International Mountain Day

Photo: ©Kyaw Kyaw Winn