Globally, rural women continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to resources like land and credit, gender inequality, and vulnerability to crises like climate change and economic instability.
And although the plight of rural women was brought to the fore last Wednesday, there’s no gainsaying the fact that this is an issue that must continually be on the front burner until change becomes evident.
Wednesday was the United Nations International Day of Rural Women, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), which has been at the forefront of championing the causes of women, particularly the mostly overlooked ones, like those in rural places, joined the world to celebrate them, Ezinwa Okoroafor, the Global President of FIDA insists that enough cannot be said until their contributions to humanity are truely recognised and honoured.
Mrs. Okoroafor, who pointed out that “empowering rural women is not an act of charity,” but “a legal, moral, and global obligation,” called for the celebration of “the strength, resilience, and vital contributions of rural women everywhere. From small family farms to large cooperative fields, rural women are cultivating not just food but hope, stability, and the future of their communities.”
In a statement issued on behalf of FIDA Global, Okoroafor said:
“[F]ood security and sustainable development rest heavily on the shoulders of these women. Yet, they continue to face barriers, including unequal access to land and credit, limited education, healthcare, and participation in decision-making.
“FIDA reaffirms that empowering rural women is not an act of charity; it is a legal, moral, and global obligation. Recognizing their invaluable role is not enough; we must act deliberately. We must design laws, policies, and programs that protect rural women’s rights, enhance their productivity, and honour their contributions to humanity. When rural women thrive, they feed more than their families. They actually nourish entire nations.
“As advocates for gender equality and social justice, FIDA calls on States, Governments, Development Partners, and Civil Society to build structures that lift rural women from the margins to the center of decision-making, ensuring that their rights are respected and their voices heard.
“When rural women rise, humanity flourishes. Their empowerment is not only the key to ending hunger, it is the seed of equality, justice, and shared prosperity for generations to come.
“Today, and every day, FIDA stands with rural women defending their rights, amplifying their voices, and reaffirming our global commitment to build a fairer, more inclusive world where every woman can cultivate not just food, but freedom, dignity, and a future full of promise.”
