The International Day of Rural Women was observed across the world on 15 October 2016. The theme for the day for the year 2016 is Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too. As per the United Nations, empowering rural women is a pre-requisite to fulfilling the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals that aim to end poverty and hunger, achieve food security and empower all women and girls.

The theme tries to bring focus on farmers, fishers and pastoralists who are standing on the frontlines of food insecurity as temperatures rise, weather patterns become less predictable and climate-related disasters become more frequent. As key actors in food systems, as small-scale farmers and those in charge of ensuring adequate nutrition for families, rural women are at the centre of this challenge.

Background

• The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008.
• The day was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007.
• The day recognizes the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
• The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on October 15, 2008. This day recognizes the role of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
• The idea of honoring rural women with a special day was put forward at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995.
• It was suggested that October 15 be celebrated as “World Rural Women’s Day,” which is the eve of World Food Day, to highlight rural women’s role in food production and food security.
• “World Rural Women’s Day” was previously celebrated across the world for more than a decade before it was officially a UN observance.
• The theme of World Food Day is ‘Social Protection and Agriculture.