17 Oct. Last Day of the 17 Days campaign: Rural Women Rise and Claim your right to an adequate standard of living-End Poverty!

Poverty amongst rural women is the highest in the world. We call on you today, 17 October, to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which promotes awareness of the need to eradicate extreme poverty and destitution in all countries and supports those affected by it.

“Women around the world are more likely to live in poverty – just because they are women. They have less access to land, education, income, and decision-making - all of which keep them poor.”

Dear Sisters living in rural areas of the world,

In order to eradicate poverty, you must lobby your government to create and strengthen social protection floors to enable your communities to break out of the cycle of poverty. Social protection includes basic social rights signed by your government which include access to essential human services such as education, healthcare, income security, and food security.

States have the ability to eradicate poverty in your communities if they make it a top priority. It is up to you to lobby your government to do so. Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 Goal 1: ?End poverty in all its forms everywhere?

Sustainable Development Goal

Agemda 2030

Target 1.1 : “By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.”

Target 1.2 : “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.”

Target 1.3 : “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.”

Target 1.b : “Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions.”

Ideas for action

• Lobby your government to accelerate implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as well as regional-level declarations on poverty reduction
• Educate others on their human right to social services and right to development
• Ensure that you are granted the same economic opportunities and benefits from your local and national governments as men
• Promote anti-poverty programs that improve access to food and water for women living in poverty

WWSF thanks all its coalition members who participated in the 17 Days of activism for the empowerment of rural women leaders and their communities 1-17 October.

Together we shall achieve what no one organization can do - we all have a role to play to create a world where everyone has their rights respected.

In solidarity, Elly Pradervand, WWSF Chair ]CEO, in partnership with the WWSF campaign Team – www.woman.ch