WUNRN
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to: Rural Development Leadership Network - rdln@ruraldevelopment.org
Rural Development Leadership Network
CSW 56 STATEMENT ON SUPPORT FOR
RURAL WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING BODIES, BY RURAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP NETWORK
Of the
approximately 3.4 billion women in the world, more than 500 million are poor
rural women. Of these poor rural women,
about 4.2 million live in the
Some of these
The Platform for Action recognizes the extent of poverty in the
developing world and in pockets of poverty in developed countries, succinctly
summarizing some of its causes:
Women's poverty is directly related to the absence of
economic opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic resources,
including credit, land ownership and inheritance, lack of access to education
and support services and their minimal participation in the decision-making
process. Poverty can also force women into situations in which they are
vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
The Platform notes the disproportionate burdens rural women bear. Because of their distance from centres of
power, media, money, and influence, the concerns of rural women are often not
included on the agendas of decision-making bodies. The theme of CSW56 is a
positive step in recognizing the concerns of poor rural women worldwide.
In order to fulfil the potential of this theme and to meet the CSW
recommendation that women be represented in the decision-making bodies that
affect them, it is important that more poor rural women be present at CSW56 and
at future CSW sessions, including women from pockets of poverty in developed
countries. The professional and academic
women who predominate at CSW meetings perform important work as allies of the
poor. But the empowerment of poor rural
women will be realized more fully when they have a seat at the table. Their role in poverty and hunger eradication
will be enhanced. Their recommendations
for development and current challenges will be heard. They are leaders in their communities and
deserve the same chance as others to meet with peers from around the world,
share experiences and strategies, and advocate for themselves and the causes
they believe in. We recommend that
member states make this possible by giving financial support for the
participation in CSW sessions by poor rural women from their countries and that
voluntary groups and NGO’s working with the United Nations do the same.