The World Rural Women's Day

from: Rural Women's Development Society

Each year on the 15th of October, the world celebrates World Rural

Women's Day. The first World Rural Women's day took place in 1995 in

Beijing, since then it has become an official day recognized by the

United Nations. This day, which precedes International Food Day,

comes as an important gesture in order to support and improve the

status of rural women who formulate a quarter of the population

worldwide. The celebration highlights their essential role within

their own communities and development of their own societies.

Rural women contribute in food security and sustainability of the

rural areas and half of the world's food is produced by women. The

situation in Palestine is no different, whereas 50% of rural women

work in agriculture, 48% of them work within the boundaries of their

families. This means they do not receive any payment for their

services, despite the fact that they produce 65% of the agricultural

work. Their production is also not included in the Palestinian Gross

Domestic Product.

In spite of the essential role of rural women, it is not measurable

in comparison with their continuous struggle against Israeli

aggression. Since the start of the 20th century, rural women have

had various essential roles in the struggle against the Israeli

Occupation. Their role increased as a result of the killings, sieges

and starvation policies the Israelis have undertaken against the

Palestinians throughout the country. The most recent and devastating

is the presence of the Apartheid Wall; this is living proof of all

these aggressions. As a result of the Wall more than 210,000

Palestinians will be directly affected. The Wall forces them to be

separated from their lands, schools, medical facilities, and social

services.

During these crucial times we can see an increase in the poverty rate

among Palestinians as a result of the deteriorating situation. The

responsibility of women increases enormously in order to secure the

basic needs of life. These crucial economic and social situations

have increased the activeness of rural women. Women's committee's

have been formed in order to focus attention towards the inhuman

activities perpetrated against them and also to highlight the

negative affects of the Apartheid Wall.

The strength of rural women drives us to raise our voice for the

equality of opportunities between women and men in various spheres of

life. We ask in this day that the governmental organizations and

civil society give acknowledgment of the essential role of rural

women, alongside the support for women affected by the Wall.

The Rural Women's Development Society / RWDS

15, October, 2003