Spain: AFAMMER and First International Congress “The Voice of Rural Women in the World”

The First International Congress “The Voice of Rural Women in the World” organized by AFAMMER, has set the global agenda the role of rural women. The conclusions of this event will be included in the White Paper on Rural Women of the XXI Century.
Among the high demands in this Congress it has been urged to devise the legal and political measures to improve the situation of women in rural areas and promote equal opportunities, to implement specific funding to encourage the employment of women in rural areas and their entrepreneurial spirit; and it has been requested to initiate or support awareness-raising campaigns and visibility to women.

This is an international conference which was attended by 1,100 women during the 8th and 9th of April, has had the participation of more than twenty speakers of great importance worldwide, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Babatunde Osotimehin, the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality Alfonso Alonso, Minister of Agriculture Isabel Garcia Tejerina, the former president of Castilla la Mancha, Maria Dolores Cospedal and representation of the regional government.

This first congress was the best megaphone for Voice of Rural Women was heard on five continents. A meeting where some initial conclusions can be drawn as to progress towards equality is progressive but slow, that equality policies should be a priority for governments, that rural women are the cornerstone for sustainable development and they are also the driving force of all social and economic fields.

All conclusions in Congress are contained in the White Paper on Rural Women in the XXI Century which will be sent to major national and international efforts to move forward on the road to equality and social justice organizations.

In addition, the first International Congress was the venue chosen by the Government to announce a new Plan for the Promotion of Rural Women with which for the first time in Spain inclusive policies will be developed through a model of intervention and direct support rural women whose aim will be to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment and participation of women.

The International Congress “The Voice of Rural Women in the World” has ended with a great success of participation and dissemination demonstrating, once again, the need in society to share a reality that affects millions of women. For two days he has given voice to the injustice that women in much of the world are subject but also has been able to assess the strength, courage and determination that put each of them on the road to equality.

Source: AFAMMER