The only statement delivered by the Civil Society on the agenda item entitled ‘Perspectives of Land and Water Resources in a Changing Climate’ was by WOCAN. It was timely because the background document and the ensuing discussions hardly made mention of women and their importance in agricultural sustainability under conditions of changing climate. Subsequently, the Report, adopted on the last day, carried gender equality in agriculture production and rural development as a priority and one of the main challenges in the formulation of FAO’s new strategic objectives, plans and programs for future work.
The statement delivered by Maris Gavino, Liaison for Rome, suggested to the Committee that studies and evaluations of natural resources for food and agriculture have to take account of the actors, the women and men farmers. Policies, plans and programs have to be carefully laid down, made consistent with and should not impair the needs, interests and rights of small-scale food producers and indigenous peoples.
She mentioned about the desire to see a continuum in the advocacy of women farmers and girls by being placed in the center of the stage in COAG as in the FAO Conference, the CFS and UN CSW. Being a cross cutting issue, an institutional monitoring of gender implications in agricultural production sustainability was needed.
The report reflected COAG’s recommendation to FAO that special consideration of family farms and women farmers be given in the development of tools and methodologies and provision of technical assistance and advice on the planning and management of national natural resources for food and agriculture under different climatic and management conditions.
FAO, Rome, Italy, 26 May 2012