Gender equality is central to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) mandate to achieve food security for all by raising levels of nutrition, improving agricultural productivity and natural resource management, and improving the lives of rural populations. FAO can achieve its goals only if it simultaneously works towards gender equality and supports women’s diverse roles in agriculture and rural development.

This publication is intended for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) staff and other development practitioners. The publication records experiences gained and good practices identified by participants, and summarizes the lessons learned by drawing on the experiences of smallholder female farmers in India. The publication also documents the models that make SEWA of India an exemplary organization in addressing grass-roots issues using a needs-based, capacity-development approach.

This report explores how gender equality can contribute to food security. The report describes the relationship between gender-based discrimination and the different channels through which households and individuals access food. It concludes that while equality of treatment between women and men and food security are mutually supportive, gender equality remains an elusive goal in many regions, and a transformation of traditional gender roles is urgently needed.

This report illustrates initiatives that have engaged men and boys in the promotion of gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. The report presents lessons learned in the areas of evidence and data on engaging men and boys; research and tools for working with men and boys; advocacy and partnership building; support at policy and institutional levels; and engaging men and boys at the community and individual levels.

Pursuant to resolution 65/190 of the General Assembly, the present report provides information on measures by Member States and activities within the United Nations system to tackle trafficking in women and girls. Conclusions are drawn and specific recommendations for future action made.

Promoting decent employment is essential to achieving food security and reducing poverty. This Case for Action argues that improving policy coherence between employment and agricultural initiatives and investing more in the promotion of decent rural employment contribute highly to the interlinked challenges of fighting rural poverty and feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

The present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 64/140, reviews the activities undertaken by Member States and United Nations entities to empower rural women and contains recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

The State of Food and Agriculture 2010–11 makes the "business case" for addressing gender issues in agriculture and rural employment. The agriculture sector is underperforming in many developing countries, in part because women do not have equal access to the resources and opportunities they need to be more productive. Promoting gender equality is not only good for women; it is also good for agricultural development.

In resolution 63/156, the General Assembly highlighted the need to protect and assist all victims of trafficking, with full respect for their human rights. It outlined concrete measures, addressing them to States and other stakeholders, to prevent and eliminate trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The present report addresses this issue.

This document outlines the rationale for using policy approaches to engage men in achieving gender equality, reducing health inequities, and improving women’s and men’s health; offers a framework for integrating men into gender equality policies including in the health sector; and highlights successful policy initiatives addressing men in gender equality and health equality programmes.

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the topic of women in rural areas.

The Rural Poverty Report 2011 provides a coherent and comprehensive look at rural poverty, its consequences and the prospects for eradicating it. The report contains updated estimates by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) regarding how many rural poor people there are in the developing world, poverty rates in rural areas, and the percentage of poor people residing in rural areas.

This report is the result of a collaborative effort of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) team working on the Gender Dimension of Rural Employment. It discusses key issues related to gender equality and rural employment in the context of poverty reduction. It presents various policy responses, empirical data and good practices.

Conceptual and practical information on engaging men and boys in romoting gender equality and health are presented. Specific topics include sexual and reproductive health; maternal, newborn and child health; fatherhood; HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support; and prevention of gender-based violence.

The present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 62/136, reviews the activities undertaken by Member States and United Nations entities to empower rural women and improve their situation and contains recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

The present report is the sixth World Survey on the Role of Women in Development. In its resolution 59/248, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to update the World Survey in 2009. In its resolution 60/210, the Assembly decided that the theme for the survey would be “women’s control over economic resources and access to financial resources, including microfinance”.

This publication discusses entry points and opportunities for engaging men in work on gender equality, focusing on issues of violence, health, fatherhood, the workplace and the need to engage youth.

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the topic of women in rural areas.

The present report responds to General Assembly resolution 60/138. It reviews the activities undertaken by Member States and United Nations entities to improve the situation of women in rural areas, including by addressing the empowerment of rural women. Recommendations for consideration by the Assembly are provided.