NEW YORK, MARCH 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See drew attention to the needs of rural women in a speech delivered on Tuesday. Speaking at the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Holy See’s delegation said it is important to recognize that rural women make up a large portion of the world’s population.
“Rural women oftentimes work in deplorable situations against odds that defy imagination,” the Holy See warned.
The speech mentioned some of the problems experienced by rural women: hunger, poverty, long hours of unpaid work, unhygienic situations, limited access to health care, discrimination and exposure to violence. Then, the women who migrate to urban areas or to other countries also face the risk of exploitation.
Improving the lives of rural women will not only help them, but their families and the local community, the Holy See affirmed.
“Education and training, the provision of resources, service delivery, access to financial systems and communication technology are just some areas which demand ongoing attention as they lead to realization of the right to development,” the address continued.
“Women, and in particular rural women, should be given the recognition that is due to them and they should be able to make an impact on the world around them,” they declared.
“The Secretary-General rightly indicated in his report that the advancement of rural women and girls is an essential part of the solution to today’s most serious global challenges,” the Holy See concluded.
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Full text of address: http://www.holyseemission.org/statements/statement.aspx?id=362
