On this International Women’s Day, we as the Rural Women’s Assembly stand in solidarity with rural and peasant women across the world. The Rural Women’s Assembly of South Africa not only represents the countless voices of rural women in South Africa, our voices echoes the struggles of rural and peasant women in the Global South.
As rural women, we find ourselves in a storm of poverty, hunger, unemployment, and war rages around us. Yet, we women continue to hold up half the sky, even when its weight threatens to crush us. As we commemorate another International Women’s Day, we gather under the banner of solidarity as we clench our fists in determination. The truth is stark: the injury of one woman, one community, one nation, is an injury to us all. The growing indifference towards the plight of rural women in developing nations must not remain unchallenged.
Wars rage across the world, leaving their deepest scars on the backs of women and children. These violent geopolitical conflicts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, North of Mozambique to Palestine are not distant stories – they are a stain on our collective conscience. Whether it’s the war on poverty, hunger or the climate emergency, we as rural women are all left behind by the same system which is now crumbling by debt and austerity. From rural women picking fruit to those harvesting rice, coffee, or tobacco, it’s our labour which feeds the world. From the women toiling in harsh factory conditions for a pittance in China, to those of us here in Africa, we are all exploited by a system which prioritises profit over people!
Violence permeates our everyday life, whether it is violence against nature or our bodies. Gender-based violence (GBV) is not just a statistic, it is a pervasive reality that casts a long shadow over our communities. One in four women are affected by GBV daily. This shows the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. The perpetrators often reside within our closest circles, betraying the trust and safety we should expect in our own homes. This dynamic of violence within intimate relationships further entrenches the cycle of abuse, making it even more challenging for us to break free.
Land reform, particularly women’s access to land with water, remains elusive for many rural women. The Rural Women’s Assembly, “One Woman, One Hectare” campaign is about providing rural women with autonomy and agency. Without meaningful land reform, we are left vulnerable to exploitation and further disempowerment. Furthermore, the climate crisis and the aftermath of climate disasters exacerbates our already precarious situation, as commercial interests often take precedence over our basic needs and rights.
Rural women worldwide shoulder the burden of food production, yet remain economically marginalised and exploited. The Rural Women’s Assembly wishes to convey to our sisters across the world: you are not alone! Your strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit inspires us. The Rural Women’s Assembly stands with you to demand a world where women are empowered, not exploited.
The Rural Women’s Assembly demands:
1. Land and Agrarian Reform: We demand the swift implementation of “One Woman, One Hectare,” providing women with access to at least one hectare of land with water
2. We call for the recognition and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).
3. Robust measures are urgently needed to combat GBV, including the provision of shelters and comprehensive counselling services.
4. Policymakers must recognise and prioritize the unique challenges and contributions of rural women in policy formulation and implementation.
5. Climate Crisis is a threat and impacting humanity and our livelihoods – we cannot wait for tomorrow. We demand that action be taken today! We call for System Change!
6. We stand against government’s austerity measures and budget cuts and demand a Basic Income Grant given the high unemployment rate
Amidst the hardship, a flicker of hope remains. We, the rural women of the world, are a powerful force. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, leaders, farmers, farm workers, fishers and change-makers. We will not be divided by borders, language or silenced by indifference. This International Women’s Day, let us not just celebrate progress, let us accelerate it! Investing in women, especially women farmers, accelerates progress for all. Let us forge a world where the saying “holding up half the sky” is not just symbolic but a lived reality for women everywhere. Together, in solidarity, we will rise, rebuild, and hold up the sky!
