Representatives from Latin American governments, Caribbean Common Market, World Farmers Organization, European cooperative unions, and bilateral agencies, gathered at the 63rd session of the U.N. Commission for Social Development in Chennai. This was opened by Nandini Azad, president of the Working Women’s Forum – Indian Cooperative Network for Women (WWF-ICNW).
The event, hosted by WWF-ICNW, also connected with 300 grassroots women workers from various Indian States.
Dr. Azad emphasised role of WWF in ensuring that women from informal sectors in BRICS and G20 countries have a voice on international platforms. She called upon cooperative leaders and global stakeholders, including the G20 and BRICS, to integrate financial inclusion with gender equality.
Viviana Bezerra De Mesquita, undersecretary for Rural Women at Brazil’s Ministry of Agrarian Development, stressed on the crucial role of women in Brazil’s family farming sector, which constitutes 45% of the workforce. Highlighting progressive initiatives such as PRONAF and the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), which mandates 50% of food purchases from women, she stressed Brazil’s commitment to gender-inclusive policies and economic freedom for rural women.
Andreas Kappes, secretary-general of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU), emphasised that women’s leadership in cooperatives was essential for global economic transformation. With the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 approaching, he called for strengthening women’s roles in the cooperative movement.
Arnold Puech d’Alissac, president of the World Farmers Organisation, highlighted how cooperatives fuel community resilience and food security. He stressed that agricultural cooperatives empower rural women by providing access to resources, markets, and financial stability. As the world gears up for the International Year of Cooperatives, he called for reinforcing these networks to ensure women’s leadership in rural economies.
Discussions at the event also focused on capacity building, gender inequality in agriculture, global cooperative networks, policy advocacy, and climate change’s impact on gender dynamics. Six micro-entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh were also honoured for their resilience and success.
Published - February 23, 2025 12:06 am IST
