The United States is delighted to invite you to the International Year of the Woman Farmer – Empowering Woman Farmers to tackle Hunger, Poverty and Climate Change side event, to be held at the Sheikh Zayed Center (FAO Headquarters) on September 30 from 12:15-1:45 pm. Participants can also join virtually at: www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6763/icode/
Moderated by Deputy-Director of FAO’s Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division Lauren Phillips, the side event will include remarks from H.E. Ambassador Prescott and FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, a panel discussion with women engaged in agriculture from around the world, questions from the audience, and closing remarks by H.E. Ambassador Tserendorj of Mongolia.
On May 2, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, led by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, declaring 2026 the International Year of the Women Farmer (IYWF). Women play a central role in food security and nutrition. Yet globally and in every region, the prevalence of food insecurity is higher among women than among men. Progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 5 on Gender Equality, has been hampered in part by recent global shocks and stressors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts and climate change, which have had unequal gender impacts across food systems.