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During the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, an interactive luncheon event focusing on the urgent need to empower rural women for food and nutrition security. The event was co-hosted by the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Government of Bangladesh, and the Netherlands Mission to the United Nations. The discussion was moderated by award-winning ABC News anchor Christiane Amanpour. This event was open to the press.
Background:
Gender inequality is a major cause and effect of hunger and poverty. It is estimated that 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls.
Realizing the potential of rural women represents a major opportunity to simultaneously boost food and nutrition security, empower rural women and promote economic development and social welfare. Studies indicate that productivity gains from ensuring equal access to fertilizers, seeds and tools for women could reduce the number of hungry people by between 100 and 150 million.
Speakers:
- Keynote Speaker: Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh
- Aloisea Inyumba, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Rwanda
- Anne Itto, farmer and former Caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, South Sudan
- Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, World Food Programme
- Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women
- Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever
- Reema Nanavaty, Director, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India
- Yoka Brandt, Director General for International Cooperation, the Netherlands
Media:
This event was open to the press. For more details, click here.
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