U.N. agencies: Rural female food producers face violence
March 11, 2013 | 04:31 PM
Although women produce much of the food in developing countries, they face violence and discrimination that reduce global food production, the heads of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the International Law Development Organization noted in a joint International Women’s Day proclamation Friday.
“Very often, discriminatory practices in rural communities generate biases in intra-household food distribution, whereby women and girls usually have access to limited and less nutritious food,” the agency heads said in a news release.
“Women spend hours collecting firewood to cook the family meal, leaving themselves vulnerable to rape and other attacks,” the group said. “Widows are persecuted over land ownership but, all too often, national laws favor men over women. Domestic violence has an overall negative impact on agricultural production and family well-being.”
“If a girl can attend school in a safe environment, she can reach her full mental and physical potential,” they said.
“She can avoid early marriage, forced marriage or other forms of violence. If a woman can register the birth of her children, legally own land and the money she earns, she can contribute to the benefit of her society and its economic development. Improving equality in women’s access to agricultural inputs (such as seeds, tools, fertilisers), education and public services would contribute significantly to achieving food security and better nutrition for all,” they said.
Famine often leads poor rural families in developing countries to marry off girls at an early age, but United Nations Foundation President and CEO Kathy Colvin today noted in a news release that the Violence Against Women Act signed Thursday by President Barack Obama contains a provision that says American leadership will prioritize ending child marriage around the world.
“Very often, discriminatory practices in rural communities generate biases in intra-household food distribution, whereby women and girls usually have access to limited and less nutritious food,” the agency heads said in a news release.
“Women spend hours collecting firewood to cook the family meal, leaving themselves vulnerable to rape and other attacks,” the group said. “Widows are persecuted over land ownership but, all too often, national laws favor men over women. Domestic violence has an overall negative impact on agricultural production and family well-being.”
“If a girl can attend school in a safe environment, she can reach her full mental and physical potential,” they said.
“She can avoid early marriage, forced marriage or other forms of violence. If a woman can register the birth of her children, legally own land and the money she earns, she can contribute to the benefit of her society and its economic development. Improving equality in women’s access to agricultural inputs (such as seeds, tools, fertilisers), education and public services would contribute significantly to achieving food security and better nutrition for all,” they said.
Famine often leads poor rural families in developing countries to marry off girls at an early age, but United Nations Foundation President and CEO Kathy Colvin today noted in a news release that the Violence Against Women Act signed Thursday by President Barack Obama contains a provision that says American leadership will prioritize ending child marriage around the world.
