FAO Remarks on the Advancement of Women (Third Committee, Item 27)

FAO Remarks on the Advancement of Women (Third Committee, Item 27)

Ms. Lauren Flejzor, Liaison Officer, FAO Liaison Office to the UN

October 17, 2014; United Nations Headquarters (Conference Room 1)

 

Madame Chair,

 

As it is my first time taking the floor, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election, and to assure you of FAO’s support during the session.

 

Despite many gains made, substantial gaps remain towards the advancement of gender equality as indicated by many delegations and experts this week. This is particularly noteworthy as we approach the review conference on the 20 year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action as well as the formation of a new development agenda in 2015.  We support our UN partners, CEDAW and a number of members states in their call for a more ambitious approach to addressing gender equality in the post-2015 development agenda. 

 

FAO’s 2014 State of Food Insecurity in the World report notes that one in eight people in developing countries, or 13.5 percent of the overall population, remain underfed’. In rural areas, in particular mountain areas, where females have less access to household resources, women and girls are at greater risk of hunger and poor nutrition. Moreover, as a recent FAO State of Food and Agriculture report notes, ‘26% of the world’s children are stunted and child and maternal malnutrition -  in particular child underweight, child micronutrient deficiencies and poor breastfeeding practices - impose the largest nutrition-related health threat at the global level’.

 

These are urgent and pressing issues.  Tackling them will continue to be the highest priority for FAO in its work with countries to eradicate hunger and food insecurity.  Without adequate food and nutrition, women have no hope of raising their prospects for income, breaking out of poverty traps, and becoming more equal, participative members in society. And part of the solution involves providing women greater access to productive resources and opportunities.

 

Despite the fact that women represent 43 percent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries, gender disparities in land holdings are still evident. The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, which resulted in an unprecedented international agreement on the governance of tenure, recognises gender equality as one of the Voluntary Guidelines’ ten core principles. With the historic endorsement of the Guidelines and ongoing work on the Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments, FAO believes the time is now for working together to promote women’s right to land.

 

FAO’s Gender and Land Rights Database provides up-to-date country-level information on factors that influence the realisation of women’s land rights. A revamped, expanded version of the Database, which includes sex-disaggregated data, will be launched in early November 2014. FAO will continue to work with countries to examine and modify data sets to include gender relevant statistics, which are critical to the successful measurement and verification of goals, targets and indictors in the new post-2015 development agenda.

 

FAO’s Farmer Field Schools have also been training women in farming techniques, so they can obtain food for adequately nourishing their families while raising money for needed school fees. This initiative has been particularly successful in Africa, where some women have attested the Schools have made them better mothers, and have been an excellent example of an FAO initiative that integrates the social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainable development.

 

In addition, FAO has been helping to provide women’s access to microcredit in the fisheries sector and increasing women’s participation in decision-making in mountain communities. In forest- dependent communities, women are also trained in the marketing and development of small and medium-scale enterprises to improve their livelihoods and communities. Even when gender-specific constraints are present in society, women can still make a vital contribution to the agricultural sector and rural enterprises using these initiatives. Where women suffer disadvantages because of gender norms, we need to continue looking for ways to overcome gender discrimination through extension and other interventions.

 

When we celebrated the International Day of Rural Women here at UN Headquarter on 15 October, enthusiastic attendees at the event called rural women agents of change, noting that without them we cannot deliver the successful implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. We recall this message today and invite you all to continue thinking about actions to improve gender equality in rural farming at the upcoming World Food Day observance event. The event, which is sponsored by the Rome-based Agencies - IFAD, WFP and FAO - will be held on Monday, 20 October, from 1:15 until 2:30pm in Conference Room 7 at UN Headquarters.  This event marks an important opportunity to consider the role of family farming in the pursuit of a more food secure world, and highlights recent findings of FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture report. We look forward to hearing your ideas for action at the event.

 

Madame Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I reiterate FAO’s support during the Committee’s work.