United Nations Observed International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2025.

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Rural Women (IDRW) is observed annually on October 15 to recognize and honor the contributions of rural and indigenous women to agriculture, food security, and rural development. In 2025, the day is promoted by UN Women with the theme “The Rise of Rural Women: Building Resilient Futures with Beijing+30”, highlighting empowerment, digital inclusion, social protection, and leadership.

      - The 2025 theme emphasizes the empowerment of rural and indigenous women to drive sustainable, climate-resilient development, with a focus on digital inclusion, social protection, and leadership, aligned with the Beijing+30 goals.

      - The IDRW was established in 1995 during the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, and officially adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 18, 2007 through Resolution A/RES/62/136, designating October 15 as the day. The day was first observed in 2008.

      - On May 2, 2024, the UNGA adopted Resolution A/RES/78/279, declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Proposed by the USA and co-sponsored by 123 countries, this initiative recognizes the vital role of women in global agriculture, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alongside other UN agencies.

Main Point :-   (i) Women produce half of the world’s food and serve as stewards of environment and biodiversity. They constitute approximately 40% of global agricultural labor, exceeding 50% in parts of Africa and Asia, highlighting their central role in sustaining food systems.

      (ii) Despite their contributions, women own only 15% of agricultural land and face limited access to land, credit, education, and technology. Providing equal access to resources could increase farm yields by 20–30%, feeding an additional 100–150 million people globally.

(iii) In India, the day is observed as National Women Farmers’ Day (Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas) on October 15 to honor the significant contributions of women in agriculture to the country’s food security and rural economy.
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