By. Syed Aban Safwan and Md.
Mubassir Rahman Raim
POSITION PAPER
COMMITTEE: UNCSW
COUNTRY: FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
AGENDA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ACHIEVING GENDER
EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS
Germany recognizes that social justice and sustainable development are significantly
advanced by gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls. Rural women
and girls continue to face difficult obstacles that prevent them from fully participating in the
social, economic, and political arenas, even in spite of substantial worldwide advancements
in gender equality. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 on gender
equality and SDG 10 on decreased disparities, cannot be achieved until these problems are
resolved.
Germany recognizes the following to be some of the key and detrimental issues that the
committee needs to address:-
● Access to Education and Training: Rural women and girls often have less access to
high-quality education and career training, which has a negative impact on their
literacy rates and limits their ability to acquire new skills. This keeps people in
poverty and gender inequity cycles. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural
women have a far lower secondary education completion rate, according to UNESCO.
● Economic Empowerment: Agricultural women are disproportionately impacted by
obstacles to financial resources such as market access, financing, and land ownership.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women own fewer than
20% of agricultural land but make up 43% of the labour force in developing nations.
Their economic potential is limited, and poverty is sustained by this injustice.
● Healthcare and Social Services: Rural communities sometimes lack a suitable
healthcare infrastructure particularly when it comes to maternity and reproductive
health services. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal death
rates are greater in rural areas and access to basic healthcare is restricted, which
exacerbates health inequities.
● Participation in Decision-Making: In both local and political decision-making
processes, rural women are disproportionately underrepresented. Their capacity to
promote laws and initiatives that cater to their particular needs is hampered by their
lack of representation. Women make up just 25% of national parliaments worldwide,
according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and their representation is
significantly lower among women in rural areas.
● Societal Norms and Cultural Barriers: Gender stereotypes and prejudice against rural
women and girls are typically perpetuated by deeply rooted societal norms and
cultural practices. These conventions may limit their freedom of movement, their
access to economic and educational possibilities, and expose them to harmful
practices like early marriage and gender-based abuse. It will take a determined effort
to change perceptions and advance gender equality in the community to remove these
obstacles.
Germany is dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of rural women
and girls through comprehensive policies and international cooperation. We advocate for the
following measures:
● Enhanced Education and Training Programs: Germany supports initiatives providing
rural women and girls with access to quality education and vocational training,
emphasising STEM fields and entrepreneurship. Investments in digital infrastructure
can bridge the education gap by providing online learning opportunities.
● Economic Empowerment Initiatives: Germany calls for policies ensuring equal access
to land, credit, and markets for rural women. Support for cooperatives and women-led
enterprises can enhance economic opportunities and financial independence.
● Improved Healthcare Services: Germany urges the expansion of healthcare
infrastructure in rural areas, focusing on maternal and reproductive health services.
Mobile health units and telemedicine can play a critical role in reaching remote
communities.
● Increased Political Participation: Germany advocates for the inclusion of rural women
in decision-making processes at all levels. Quotas and capacity-building programs can
help ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed in policy formulation.
● Addressing Societal Norms and Cultural Barriers: Germany supports
community-based programs aiming to challenge and change harmful societal norms
and cultural practices. This includes awareness campaigns, education on gender
equality, and involving men and boys as allies in promoting women's rights.
Additionally, Germany advocates for the implementation of legal frameworks
protecting the rights of rural women and girls and ensuring justice for victims of
gender-based violence.
Germany remains steadfast in its commitment to working with international partners, civil
society, and local communities to overcome the challenges faced by rural women and girls.
Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive world where every woman and girl
has the opportunity to thrive.
Sources:
- UNESCO. (2021). "Global Education Monitoring Report."
Message vidéo d’Audrey Azoulay, Directrice générale de l’UNESCO, pour la Journée internationale
de l’Arganier, 10 mai 2021 - UNESCO Digital Library
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2020). "The State of Food and Agriculture."
The State of Food and Agriculture (fao.org)
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). "Trends in Maternal Mortality."
Maternal mortality (who.int)
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). (2021). "Women in Parliament: 2021."
Women in Parliament in 2021 | Inter-Parliamentary Union (ipu.org)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2020). "Human Development Report."
Human Development Report 2020 | Human Development Reports (undp.org)
