CSW69 General Discussion: FAO Plenary Statement

Excellencies, distinguished guests, dear colleagues, 

It is an honor to address this distinguished gathering at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, at a crucial time when the world must reaffirm its commitment to gender equality and the full realization of women’s rights. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark commitment that placed gender equality at the core of the development agenda. Three decades later, as we approach the final stretch of the 2030 Agenda, we must acknowledge both the progress achieved and the significant gaps that remain. 

In agrifood systems, gender inequalities persist at an alarming scale. Women are key actors in global food production, yet they continue to face systematic barriers to land, resources, finance, markets, and decision-making. FAO’s latest Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report underscores the urgency of bridging gender disparities in productivity and wages, highlighting that this could boost global GDP by nearly USD 1 trillion and reduce food insecurity for 45 million people. FAO remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that gender equality is central to the transformation of agrifood systems. This commitment is reflected in FAO’s support for the implementation of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment (VGGE), which provide a concrete global framework to address gender-based barriers.  Through targeted technical assistance and multi-stakeholder collaboration, FAO is actively working to translate these guidelines into national policies and strategies that empower rural women as key economic actors and decision-makers.  

The UN General Assembly designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF). This is a direct response to the urgent need to recognize and elevate the contributions of women in agrifood systems. FAO is preparing for this occasion by fostering international dialogues to highlight the role of women farmers as critical drivers of food security, resilience, and sustainable rural development, advance policy reforms that strengthen women’s land rights, access to finance, and leadership in agrifood governance and mobilize investments that enhance women’s capacity to engage in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable value chains, and decision-making processes. 

With only five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need bold action and collective commitment to accelerate gender equality in agrifood systems. This is why FAO launched the Commit to Grow Equality (CGE) initiative—a global platform bringing together governments, development partners, and private sector actors to mobilize investments, strengthen policies, and drive concrete action that ensures women’s full and equal participation in agrifood systems. 

Since its launch, more than 20 parterns have joined the CGE initiative and made more than 100 commitments including policy reforms, financial pledges, and institutional changes that directly benefit women in agrifood systems. FAO’s CGE is a call to action. We urge all partners to join us in making CGE the mechanism that turns commitments into transformative change. 

Thirty years after Beijing, the way forward is clear: we must act decisively, invest strategically, and work together to remove the barriers holding women back in agrifood systems. FAO stands ready to work alongside all partners to ensure that gender equality in agrifood systems moves from promise to reality and we are collectively able to shape a better future for women and girls. 

Thank you.