International Day of Rural Women 2020

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Rural Women celebrates and honors the role of rural women on October 15 each year. It recognizes rural women’s importance in enhancing agricultural and rural development worldwide.

The International Day of Rural Women was first celebrated on October 15, 2008, by the United Nations, its member states, and the collaborating bodies. There are a few important strategies and policies that have been considering.

From agriculture to food security, nutrition, land, and natural resource management, domestic care, and work, rural women are at the forefront and are taking charge by being in the driver's seat.

As rural women are at the front of the battle lines where natural resources and agriculture are threatened, this year's theme for International Day of Rural Women have been kept keeping the resilience in mind.

Women poverty and the illiteracy rate are higher in the rural areas than that of urban strata, they have the highest poverty rates and yet they produce food for about 2.5 billion people across Asia and Africa. Thus, it becomes very important to enhance the rights of rural women and provide them basic and equal empowerment.

On the International Day of Rural Women, UN Women is calling for action to support rural women and girls and grow their capabilities to respond to climate change through agricultural production, food security, and natural resources management.