The First Conference for the International Day of Rural Women Held in Kyiv
The first conference for the International Day of Rural Women took place in the capital, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women in Ukraine. The event brought together representatives from government structures, international and civil society organizations, the private sector, as well as rural women themselves to discuss their role in community development, national recovery, and strengthening economic resilience during the war.
This is reported by AgroReview
Significance of the Event and Key Milestones
In 2025, the date of the conference coincided with two significant events: the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which sets global standards for achieving gender equality, and the proclamation of the International Year of Cooperatives under the slogan “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” Both milestones emphasize the importance of solidarity, equality, and collective efforts to create a sustainable future.
The conference served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, where participants discussed the main challenges faced by rural women in wartime and sought solutions to overcome them and activate partnerships.
“Rural women in Ukraine demonstrate extraordinary strength and leadership in the face of incredible challenges. As the backbone of their communities, they continue to feed families, support the economy, and contribute to recovery. On the International Day of Rural Women, we must move from recognition to investment – in their resilience, their ideas, and their future. Empowering rural women is not just a moral obligation. It is the foundation of sustainable peace and development in Ukraine and beyond,” emphasized Matthias Schmale, UN System Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
Panels, Discussions, and Practical Workshops
Particular attention during the conference was given to supporting women living and working in rural communities. Their initiatives in farming, processing, food production, and cooperation create jobs, contribute to economic recovery, and strengthen the country’s food security.
As part of the event, participants engaged in two panel discussions focused on leadership, resilience, inequality in access to resources, as well as gender analysis of policies and the needs of women in rural areas. The discussions highlighted best practices in cooperation, women’s involvement in markets, and the role of the agricultural sector in ensuring equal opportunities.
Practical workshops addressed the development of cooperation in villages and social inclusion in the agricultural sector, where participants shared experiences in implementing projects. Additionally, a fair showcasing products and services created by rural women took place, serving as a platform for networking, presenting local brands, and establishing partnerships with businesses and donors.
At the opening of the conference, speeches were delivered by Natalka Tsmots, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, and Oleksiy Pinchuk, Director of the Department of Rural Development at the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
Despite their key role in agriculture and support for food security, rural women remain a vulnerable group that is often underrepresented in decision-making processes. Many of them combine work in farming and the agricultural sector, and their contributions often go unnoticed or undervalued.
Despite all the challenges, rural women in Ukraine continue to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and leadership qualities, becoming true agents of change for their communities.