FORUM: "Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature" International Day of Rural Women 2026. Rural women feed communities, sustain livelihoods, and safeguard the natural resources on which we all depend. This year's observance honor the work rural women do every day: conserving seeds, protecting biodiversity, managing water, and restoring degraded land.On this day, we celebrate their knowledge and leadership in building a more resilient future. Rural women's leadership focuses on empowering women in agriculture, regional enterprises, and local governance to overcome persistent underrepresentation and economic gaps. Let’s promote their work as food providers and protectors of the environment. Let’s demand their participation in decision-making within their communities. Let’s promote rural areas where women can have the same opportunities as men. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Womenwithrights, #ruralwomenday, #MujeresRurales, #MujeresConDerechos, #15October, #RuralWomen, #InternationalDayOfRuralWomen.
EVENTS: On October 15th, 2026 under the theme "Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature" International Day of Rural Women will observed. this year's celebration marks a special milestone as it coincides with the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. During this occasion, we will honor the daily work of rural women and girls in conserving seeds, protecting biodiversity, managing water, restoring degraded land, and leading sustainable agrifood systems. Register to participate!
On 7 and 8 October 2026 in Salamanca; On the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, FADEMUR will organize an high-level event entitled ''Rural Women Leading Knowledge, Opportunities and the Future'' to highlight the role of rural women as key actors in the development of their territories. The event will take place at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Salamanca and will include panel discussions and experience-sharing sessions addressing different perspectives on knowledge, opportunities and the future of rural women. The programme will also include a fair featuring rural women artisans and producers, taking place on 7 and 8 October at the Faculty of Social Sciences. The fair will showcase the work, products and initiatives led by women in rural areas. The event is part of the commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, observed on 15 October, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. Learn more
The theme of this year’s International Day of Rural Women, “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature,” honours the work rural women do every day: conserving seeds, protecting biodiversity, managing water, and restoring degraded land. They feed communities, sustain livelihoods, and safeguard the natural resources on which we all depend. On this day, we celebrate their knowledge and leadership in building a more resilient future.
Yet their rights, resources and decision-making power too often fall short of their contributions. Rural women need enforceable rights to land, water, and natural resources; equal access to finance, markets, technology, and agricultural services; decent work, social protection and resilient infrastructure. Their unpaid care work must be recognized, reduced, and redistributed.
The International Year of the Woman Farmer and this year’s meetings under the three Rio Conventions—on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification—offer an opportunity to turn recognition into action. Rural women must help shape agricultural policies and decide how funding is used to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and restore land. Their leadership must be reflected in commitments, budgets, and action.
UN Women calls on governments, financial institutions, businesses, and development partners to invest directly in rural women and remove barriers to their economic agency and environmental leadership. Rights, resources and power must match their contributions to food systems, land, water, and biodiversity.
UN WOMEN Executive director.
LIVESTREAM: Watch the sessions related to rural women held during the World Food Forum 2026 at FAO HQ!
Starting at 11:00 am the technical session entitled Women Farmers in the Digital Age: From Access to Agency.
Starting at 18:00 PM EST. The technical session entitle Empowering Women Farmers through Innovative Policy Solutions.
