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Statement on the International Women's Day 8 March 2012
Youth Agrarian Society
March 07, 2012

Youth Agrarian Society joins the world in commemorating this year's International Women's Day premised on the recognition of the role of women and the achievements made in terms of equality, justice, peace and development. This day provides a platform to reflect on the progress that has been done this far and to identify new challenges in recognizing the role that women have played in gender equality, sustainable development, decision making, poverty eradication and the fight against hunger.

This year, the theme is "Empower Rural Women- End Hunger Poverty". In Zimbabwe and the rest of the developing world women are an important source of agricultural development, contributing significantly to the labour force in this sector. Women also do a great job in providing the basic needs of their families such as food, water and fuel and they take care of their homes and family health. They manage agricultural lands; and position themselves as community and political leaders, researchers or entrepreneurs. Nevertheless - on a daily basis - many women are still confronted with societal challenges caused by gender inequality or limited access to education, health services, land, credit or new technologies. Moreover, women are the ones that are most affected by the food crisis. Over 60% of the people with chronic hunger are women and girls - a problem that is being increased by the effects of the economic crisis and climate change.

Youth Agrarian Society takes this day' commemoration to challenge the government, international community and other stakeholders to create an environment that is conducive for the women to participate in all spheres of life as fundamental to democracy and justice. We continue to advocate for the access, control and ownership of productive resources such as land for the poor rural young women who remain marginalized. There is need to ensure equitable and timely access to farming inputs, technical and support services and credit for women to boost their agricultural yields and ensuring food and livelihood security at household level. The women's land rights also need to be recognized as fundamental human rights, as unmarried and divorced women have had challenges in accessing pieces of land for their livelihoods owing to the customary approach in which women got land for farming through their marriages.

Visit the Youth Agrarian Society fact sheet

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