(AGENPARL) - Roma, 3 Marzo 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Tue 03 March 2026 Rome-based UN agencies to mark International Women’s Day 2026 with event on women farmers’ rights and access to justice
5 March 2026 | 10:00–12:00 (CET) | Sheikh Zayed Centre, FAO Headquarters – Rome
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) will jointly commemorate International Women’s Day 2026 with an event dedicated to advancing women farmers’ rights, justice and access to opportunities across agrifood systems. The observance contributes to this year’s UN theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
International Women’s Day, officially marked on 8 March, celebrates the achievements of women globally and calls for stronger action to eliminate discrimination and inequality. The event in Rome will highlight barriers that continue to affect women farmers — including limited access to land, services, resources and legal protection — and the policy and institutional measures needed to address them.
Opening remarks will be delivered by senior representatives of the three Rome-Based UN Agencies, including a video statement by QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, followed by a video message from Gérardine Mukeshimana IFAD Vice-President. Opening remarks will continue with Ahmareen Karim, Chief of Gender, Protection and Inclusion at WFP.
High-level interventions will follow from Marija Milivojević, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to FAO, and Tarifa Ajeif Alzaabi, Director-General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture.
A panel discussion will bring together farmers’ and women’s organizations, including Coldiretti Fondazione Campagna Amica, a major Italian foundation promoting short supply chains and local producers; the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), one of India’s largest unions representing women workers operating outside formal employment systems; the Spanish Federation of Associations of Rural Women (FADEMUR), which supports rural women’s economic empowerment in Spain; the Ligue des Organisations des Femmes Paysannes du Congo (LOFEPACO), a network of women farmers’ organizations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and representatives of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Farmers Market initiative, which promotes market access for women producers in Egypt.
A dedicated exhibition at the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe), will highlight women’s contributions to food, farming and cultural heritage, accompanied by a live cooking demonstration led by women farmers and chefs.
In the context of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF2026), the event will also present the new 5-euro commemorative coin produced by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Italy’s State Mint. Developed in collaboration with FAO, the silver coin will serve as a national contribution to the Year and a symbolic recognition of the essential work and leadership of women farmers.
The event will be webcast live.
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