Soroptimist International Assistant Programme Director, Anusha
Santhirasthipam, was selected to address CSW member states and civil
society representatives during a panel on the role of gender-responsive
governance and institutions for the empowerment of rural women.
Soroptimist International called Government attention to the following three areas:
1. Information
Women farmers often struggle to access the information and knowledge they
need to develop their farming practices. Information relating to financing and
microcredit, land rights and legal protection, training and skills development,
and seed procurement does not reach many rural women. Governments do not target
the female agriculturalist and programmes overlook them.
Soroptimist International stated that this lack of information is "frustrating
the ability of women to get out of the poverty trap".
Soroptimist International called upon Governments to support and develop the
role of women cooperatives, and to develop international linkages to facilitate
information exchange and learning. Such networks, as illustrated by the
community work of Soroptimist International in 124 countries around the world, can overcome communication challenges and information blockages.
2. Land
Rights
Soroptimist International called upon Governments to consolidate the land
rights of women and to protect these rights in practice. A concerted effort is
required to protect the land of all small scale farmers – particularly women,
who often receive less legal protection than men.
3. Fair
Trade
Soroptimist International urged Governments to look at trading practices
which prevent farmers from receiving a fair price for their produce. Attention
was drawn to the power of trading blocks, the damaging practice of commodity
speculation and the need to protect the value of primary products.
Soroptimist International called upon Governments to recognise the role of
women as primary producers and purchasers of food and to support them
accordingly.
To view the Soroptimist International intervention, click here and view at 1 hour 21 minutes.
For more information on CSW 56, click here.
To follow Soroptimist International at CSW 56, visit our facebook page or follow us on twitter at @SoroptiTweet and #SICSW56