Secretary-General highlights role of rural women in ending hunger
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Elderly village woman carrying bag of bananas
The UN Secretary-General is calling for greater investment in rural women, whom he describes as crucial in the fight to end hunger.
The call comes in a message marking the International Day of Rural Women, observed on 15 October.
Dianne Penn reports.
The Secretary-General says that while rural women produce much of the world's food, they continue to face disadvantages and discrimination which prevents them from realizing their potential.
According to Ban Ki-moon, many of these workers do not own the land they farm. They also are denied the financial services that could lift them out of poverty.
The Secretary-General says empowering rural women is crucial for ending hunger and poverty.
He adds that UN agencies recently launched a joint programme that will work with rural women to remove barriers facing them, and to boost their skills as producers, leaders and entrepreneurs.
Dianne Penn, United Nations
Duration: 41″
